Mary Connors

Mary Frances "Francie" Connors (Byrne), age 93, passed away peacefully with family by her side on July 23, 2025, in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

Born on May 2, 1932, Francie was the oldest of five children born to William & Margaret Byrne of Brighton, MA. She attended St. Columbkille School and later graduated from Regis College in Weston, MA.

She devoted her professional life to helping others as a medical social worker at Metro-West Medical Center, formerly Framingham Union Hospital. In her early career, she also worked with the American Red Cross and Boston City Hospital.

Francie and Jack raised six children in Norwood, MA and later retired to New Seabury, MA. She was an active volunteer throughout her life serving as a Eucharistic Minister at church and a support group leader at Falmouth Hospital. Devoted to her Catholic faith she was a long-time parishioner at both St. Timothy's Parish in Norwood and Christ the King Parish in Mashpee.

She found joy in many pursuits- as an avid tennis player and golfer, loved reading, and expressed herself through watercolor painting.

During the last six years at Providence Place in Western, Massachusetts she enjoyed independent living and the daily routine of Mass, dining with friends/other residents, and many social activities.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, John J. "Jack" Connors; her cherished son, Garrett J. "Gary" Connors; her son-in-law Teofilo "Teo" Salema; and her dear sisters Margaret "Peggy" Rogers and Patricia "Patty" Keane.

Francie leaves behind a loving family who will carry on her legacy of kindness: daughters Carolyn Marchese (Paul) of Longmeadow, MA; Christine Salema of Spofford, NH; Colleen Whitehouse (Todd) of Foxboro, MA; Mary Frances Duggan (Christopher) of Bellingham, MA; Tara Lancaster (David) of Gulf Breeze, FL; daughter-in-law Joan Connors of Norton, MA; sister Joan McCarthy of Natick, MA; brother William Byrne of East Greenwich, RI; fourteen grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A life marked by faith, service, love for family-and an enduring spirit that touched all who knew her. May her memory bring comfort to those who mourn her passing.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at 11:00 AM at Christ the King Parish, 5 Job's Fishing Road, Mashpee, MA. A Burial will be held immediately following at 12:45 PM at National Cemetery, Bourne, MA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Providence Place Legacy Fund, 5 Gamelin St., Holyoke, MA 01040.

Funeral arrangements by Chapman Funerals, www.chapmanfuneral.com