Keohane Funeral Home

Marie (Lipuscek) Cassani passed away July 28, 2015, surrounded by her loving family.  Beloved wife of 61 years to the late Francis J. Cassani. Sister of the late Joseph of Teaneck, New Jersey, and John, of Puerto Rico. 

 Loving mother of Richard Cassani and his wife, Mary Ellen, of Weymouth, and Anne Marie Conner and her husband, Paul, of Littleton, NH, Grandmother of Rev. John Cassani of Methuen, Lisa Conner of Whitefield, NH, Christopher Cassani and his wife, Laura of Quincy, Kristina Conner, M.D. of Pawtucket, R.I., Richard Cassani, Jr and his wife Kathleen, of Weymouth, and Great grandmother of Isabella Marie and Michael Francis Cassani. Sister of Mildred Halsch of Bergenfield, N.J. 

 Marie was a Naval Nurse Corps veteran of World War II and the Korean War. She spent time in New Caledonia in the South Pacific during World War II. During the Korean War, she was assigned to the hospital ship Benevolence, which the Navy had recently recommissioned. During a trial run, the Mary Luckenbach struck the USS Benevolence and it sank in 15 minutes in the Pacific outside San Francisco Bay. Marie walked off the bottom of the ship and she grabbed onto a plank of wood floating nearby. She was in the water for over 2 hours before being rescued by a fishing boat.  

 Marie worked as a registered nurse anesthetist for many years at Quincy City Hospital and South Shore Hospital. She was a Girl Scout leader and volunteered at Red Cross bloodmobiles when they came to Weymouth. In addition, she volunteered at the Weymouth Food Pantry for over 20 years.  

Marie enjoyed oil painting, cooking, gardening, reading, and taking care of her family. She also enjoyed traveling both in the United States and to distant places.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours on Thursday 4-7 PM in the McDonald Keohane Funeral Home SOUTH WEYMOUTH at 809 Main Street (Rte 18 opp. So. Shore Hospital)  Relatives and friends will gather in the funeral home at 9:15 AM on Friday prior to the Funeral Mass in Immaculate Conception Church, Weymouth at 10 AM. Burial in Blue Hill Cemetery, Braintree. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Immaculate Conception Church, 1203 Commercial Street, Weymouth, MA 02189 or to Weymouth Food Pantry, 1189 Commercial Street, Weymouth, MA 02189.