Marion Lucia Richards

Marion Lucia (Olivieri) Richards, 94, passed away peacefully on December 19, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family.
Born on November 21, 1931, to the late Rose and Angelo Olivieri, Marion was born and raised in East Boston, a place that forever held her heart. She proudly graduated from East Boston High School in 1949 and remained deeply connected to her community throughout her life.
Marion worked for many years at the Orient Heights Clothing Factory, but her true calling was serving others. She devoted herself to helping the youth of East Boston and was actively involved in numerous community groups and organizations. She volunteered countless hours, including serving as secretary for her daughter at the Beverly Richards Dance Center, and was instrumental in directing and running local pageants for Miss Massachusetts and Miss America. Her energy, dedication, and leadership touched many lives.
Marion shared 69 beautiful years of marriage with the love of her life, James M. Richards. Together, they built a life filled with love, friendship, and adventure. Marion especially cherished traveling with her longtime best friend, the late Elizabeth Bennett, and spent more than 20 years cruising around the world with her husband and close friends.
For over 25 years, Marion and Jim were proud "Florida Snowbirds," living in Palm Beach Gardens, where she formed lifelong friendships and treasured her Florida community. Especially dear to her heart was her closest friend, Joyce Saurusaitis.
Above all else, Marion's greatest joy was her family. She was the devoted mother of Beverly Richards Buckley and her husband Michael of Peabody, and James Joseph Richards and his wife Colleen of Lynn. She was a loving grandmother to James Buckley and his wife Katie Buckley, and Jarrod Richards, and a cherished great-grandmother to Emma and Tanner Buckley, and Joseph and Christine Richards. She held a special place in her heart for all her great-grandchildren, especially her beloved grandson, Jimmy Buckley.
Family and friends are invited to honor Marion's life by gathering at the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, East Boston, on Sunday, December 28th, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and again on Monday morning at 8:30 AM, before leaving in procession to St. Michael the Archangel Parish (formerly St. John's), Winthrop, for a 10:00 AM Funeral Mass. Services will conclude with Marion being laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden.
Marion will be remembered for her warmth, generosity, tireless devotion to her community, and the love she so freely gave to family and friends. Her legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in Marion's name to Care Dimensions, Suite B-102, 75 Sylvan St., Danvers, MA 01923. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marion, please visit our floral store.