Obituary of Florence M. Quirk

Florence (Dutcher) Quirk, 98, of Peabody, died early Saturday morning at the Grosvenor Park Nursing Home, Salem, following a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Francis E. Quirk. Born in Waltham, she was the daughter of the late Wallace and Agnes (MacPherson) Dutcher and had resided in Peabody for the past 80 years. She was a graduate of the Salem Commercial School and had been a secretary and bookkeeper at the family business of Frank E. Quirk & Sons Plumbing Co. of Peabody for 50 years prior to her retirement in 1970. She was active in St. John’ s Church with the Ladies Sodality and St. John’ s PTA. She was a member of the Danvers Garden club and was active in the League of Women’ s Voters and the Republican Club of Peabody. She also was an area Leader in the Girl Scouts and belonged to the J.B. Thomas Hospital Ladies Auxiliary for many years. She enjoyed making crafts and was a member of the Minutemen Craft club. She is survived by 2 daughters and a son-in-law, Marie F. and Al Cocca of Peabody and Julia M. Kozak of Lexington, a son, John F. Quirk of Peabody, a daughter-in-law, Patricia A. (LeCain) Quirk of Peabody, 2 sisters, Agnes Hennessey of Peabody and Teresa Nicoli of Saxonville, Ma.; 9 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was the mother of the late Francis E. Frank Quirk who lost his life in the blizzard of 1978 while piloting the boat ,Can-Do, and Leo J. Quirk, and sister of the late Wallace Dutcher. A Memorial Mass will be held on Thursday at 9:00 a.m. at St. John’ s Church, Peabody to which relatives and friends are kindly invited. Donations can be made to On The Threshold, P.O. Box 2158, Peabody, Ma 01960. Arrangements made by the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 20 Church St, Peabody, Ma 01960.