Obituary of Mary T. (Caulfield) Coombs

Mary T. (Caulfield) Coombs, 84, dear wife of Donald E. Coombs of Peabody, died on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 following a brief illness. Mary was born in Peabody, on August 14, 1929, daughter of the late James and Katherine (Gallagher) Caulfield. She was raised in Peabody, graduated from Peabody High School, Class of 1947 and was a lifelong resident. Mary was employed for over two decades in the China department of Jordan Marsh Company in Peabody. She was a loving mother who devoted her life to creating a home for her family and enjoyed spending precious moments with her seven grandchildren, and her large extended family on the North Shore. As a member of the Massachusetts Audubon Society and Trustees of Reservations, and as an avid walker, she spent endless hours in Danvers, Ipswich and Topsfield and throughout eastern Massachusetts, exploring wild life refuge. She enjoyed traveling and made trips to Ireland, Canada, and throughout the eastern United States. She created a beautiful garden and enjoyed sharing perennial plants among her friends and family. After retirement, she was a member of many aerobic exercise groups, and continued this activity until the last two years of her life. Mary was a devout Catholic and attended daily mass for much of her life. In addition to her husband Donald with whom she shared 58 years of marriage, Mary leaves her children and their spouses, Charles and Marlene Coombs of Beverly, Ellen and Frank Hillery of Medway, and Mary “Beth” and William Sansone of Dorchester; seven grandchildren, Philip and Anita Coombs of Beverly, Kevin Hillery of Washington, D.C., Elizabeth Hillery of Medway, Katherine, James and Colleen Sansone of Dorchester; two sisters, Margaret Murrin and her husband James of Dorchester, and Nancy Hearn of Severna Park, MD; a sister-in-law, Angela Caulfield of Hampton, NH, many beloved nieces, nephews, close friends, and longtime neighbors. She will be greatly missed by all. Her siblings, Dominic “Buddy” Caulfield, James Caulfield, Catherine Lawlor and Helen Mulherin, predeceased her. Her family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday, May 18, 2014 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody. Her funeral will be held on Monday, May 19, 2014 at 11 a.m. from the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12 noon at St. John the Baptist Church, 16 Church St., Peabody. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Autism Speaks: Katherine’s Team: 85 Devonshire St. 9th Floor, Boston, MA 02109. Burial will take place in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody. Please visit www.ccbfuneral.com for directions, obituary and memorial guest book.