Obituary of Mary A. (Kilroy) Ferraro

Mary A (Kilroy) Ferraro, 76, of Peabody and formerly of Lynn and Lynnfield, died Thursday afternoon at the South Shore Hospital in Weymouth following a brief illness. She was the devoted wife of the late James J. “Cha Cha” Ferraro who passed away this past September 10 and whom she shared over 50 years of marriage. Born and raised in Lynn, she was the daughter of the late John and Mary (Horan) Kilroy. She was raised and educated in Lynn and was a graduate of Lynn English High School, class of 1953. Mary worked for over 20 years for the state of Massachusetts as an administrator for the department of mental health and finally before retiring in 1995, she worked at Salem State College. Mary enjoyed reading mystery novels and writing, and as a young girl, had one of her poems published. She also enjoyed antiquing, cooking and traveling to Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. She was a retirement member of the state employees association and retired state and county municipal employee association. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Carolyn Ferraro of Salem, NH, her three daughters and sons-in-law, Karen and Herbert Howard of Lynn, Wendy and Thomas O’Brien of Braintree, and Mary and Kevin Conway of Peabody, her nieces and nephew, Frank Kilroy Jr of Beverly, Robyn Dempsey of Danvers and Kelly Kilroy of Lynn and is also survived by 11 grandchildren and four great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Francis Kilroy. Her funeral service will be held on Monday at 9:00 AM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody, followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM at St. Ann’s Church, Peabody to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday from 3:00 until 6:00 PM. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn.