Obituary of Constance M. "Connie" Desmond

Constance M. “Connie” (Mahan) Desmond, 85, of Peabody, loving wife of the late William J. Desmond, died on Saturday, January 23, 2016 at her home surrounded by her devoted family. Connie was born in Boston on November 19, 1930 daughter of John E. and Mary F. (Monahan) Mahan. She was raised in Newton and graduated from Newton High School in 1948. Following their marriage in 1953 Connie and Bill made their home in Peabody where they raised 5 sons. Connie was a loving mother who devoted her entire life to her creating a home for her family. Later in life she glowed when talking about her grandchildren and great grandchildren. As an active parishioner at St. Ann Church, she served as an Eucharistic Minister, an adviser on St. Ann’s Marriage Team and the CYO, a member of the Ladies Sodality serving as Vice Prefect and Secretary for many years, and was a longtime member of the Pokeno crowd. She enjoyed traveling, knitting and wintered in Florida for several years prior to Bill’s passing. For a number of years Connie was employed as an electronics assembler at Poly-Pak in Wakefield until their closing and also as an assistant at the Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home in Peabody. Connie is survived by her 4 sons and 3 daughters-in-law, William J. Desmond, Jr, Thomas M. Desmond, all of Peabody, Robert F. and Dawn Desmond of Lynn, and Daniel J. and Michelle Desmond of Danvers, and Elaine Desmond of Derry, NH; 12 cherished grandchildren, James Desmond, Michelle & Michael Hartnett, Kyle and Kory Desmond, Nicolette and Sean Bostick, Hillary, Jackson and Ella Desmond, Robert, Makenna, Jake and Desirae Desmond, 3 great grandchildren, Haley and Lindsay Hartnett, and Emma Bostick; many nieces, nephews and a dear friend Rita Cahill. Connie was predeceased in 1982 by her son Michael Thomas Desmond, and her sister Ruth Mahan. Her family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody. Her funeral will be held from the funeral home on Thursday, January 28th at 9 a.m. followed by her Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Ann Church, 140 Lynn St., Peabody. The family requested that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made in Connie’s memory to the Fanconi Anemia Research Organization, www.fanconi.org . Burial in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody. Please visit www.ccbfuneral.com for directions, online obituary and memorial guest book.