Obituary of Mary E. (Aylward) Brennan

Mary E. (Aylward) Brennan, 93, of Peabody and formerly of Lynn, died Wednesday evening at Salem Hospital following a brief illness. She was the devoted wife of the late William Brennan. Born in Boston, she was the daughter of the late John and Kathryn (Gormley) Aylward. She was raised and educated in Lynn and was a graduate of Lynn English High School, and was a member of the National Honor Society. She then attended Chandler Business and Secretary School in Boston. Upon marrying her husband William she moved to Peabody where she has lived for the past 63 years. Mary worked as a legal secretary for many firms in Boston, the last firm was for George Redding where she worked for 30 years until she retired at the age of 84. Mary is survived by a son William Brennan, two daughters and a son-in-law, Elizabeth and Frank Graczyk, and Kathy Brennan, and a daughter-in-law, Susan Brennan, all of Peabody, four grandchildren, Christine and her husband Jeff Maguire, Beth and her husband David O’Donnell, Sarah and her husband Brian Bousquet and Nora and her husband Matthew Gavitt, and is also survived by five great grandchildren, Morgan and Maeve O’Donnell, Cameron Gavitt, and Joseph and Patrick Maguire. She was the loving mother of John and James Brennan who predeceased her this year. A private funeral service for family and relatives will be held on Monday at St. Ann’s Church, Peabody followed by burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem.