Mary Louise "Marylou" Maccini

Mary Louise "Marylou" (Donoghue), a woman whose life and legacy were rooted in her family, passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, November 20, 2025, in the home she cherished for 67 years. Her passing came on the eve of her 92nd birthday, surrounded by the large and loving family that meant everything to her.

Marylou was born in Cambridge and was one of four children of Joseph and Viola Donoghue. She enjoyed a wonderful childhood in the Central Square neighborhood, forming lifelong bonds with her siblings that remained strong no matter the distances or responsibilities that adulthood brought. She attended St. Mary's School in Cambridge for all of her education and treasured the lifelong friendships she made there-some of whom later moved to Burlington alongside her.

After high school, one of her first meaningful jobs was at Polaroid. She later paused her career to devote herself wholeheartedly to raising her five children. She created a home filled with love, acceptance, and a strong Catholic faith. When she returned to work, she spent over 20 years at Hoffman Insurance Agency in Belmont as an insurance salesperson. She loved her work-especially the personal connections with her clients-and she took great pride in guiding them honestly, helping them choose only what they truly needed. She wanted her customers to become customers for life, and she earned their trust through genuine concern, kindness, and thoughtful guidance.

In retirement, unable to sit still, she worked part-time at Filene's and Kohl's. This kept her busy, and of course gave her countless opportunities to find bargains for her family. Marylou was an incredible seamstress and crocheter, making hats, scarves, blankets, and even Halloween costumes with love. She was also a wonderful cook, a skill that was especially valuable in a home of thirteen. Above all, she was generous with her time-never once turning down a request to babysit. Her family always came first.

For Marylou, faith was much more than attending Mass on Sundays-it was something she lived every day. She used her faith to help guide her through life's challenges and to make thoughtful, compassionate decisions. She was deeply involved at St. Malachy Church, where she taught CCD, worked the Bazaars and the Ham and Bean Dinners, served as an Eucharistic Minister, assisted in the office, joined the Jubilee committee, embroidered baptismal garments for infants, and helped in any role where she was needed. Her church friends were an important part of her life. She was a devoted 4 p.m. Saturday Mass attendee, often followed by dinner with her church circle. She also regularly attended daily Mass, frequently sharing coffee or a light snack afterward at Dunkin Donuts or Wegman's.

Marylou was a "Yes Person" in the best and most loving ways. What mattered to her family mattered to her. As a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she was all-in. She attended countless school events, activities, and sports. Even if she didn't fully understand a sport, she was there-cheering, supporting, and beaming with pride. Track meets, cross country, Horse Shows, Junior Olympic weight lifting-whatever the activity, she showed up.

She helped her daughter Rita rescue horses, traveling to pick them up and caring for them until they found new homes. She enjoyed flea markets and loved square dancing with her brother Joe. She was always up for an adventure, no matter how big or small. She traveled with her girlfriends through the Burlington Recreation Department, took trips with her sister Rita and Peggy, and even attended numerous NFL Super Bowls. For her, the adventure itself mattered less than the people she shared it with.

Marylou lived a wonderful life. To say she was surrounded by family hardly captures the immense love that filled her days. Her family and friends were her heart and her joy. She thrived in their company and drew strength from the deep connections she nurtured. She will be remembered for her faith, her spirit of adventure, her humor, her devotion to family, and-above all-the kindness and love she gave so freely to everyone she met. She always saw the best in people.

She may not have been the richest woman in worldly ways, but she knew she was rich beyond measure for the close-knit family she built and cherished. She felt blessed and believed she was the luckiest woman in the world.

Marylou leaves her family with countless beautiful memories and a roadmap for living: to be the best person you can be, to keep your faith at the center of your life, and to love others with all your heart. She will be deeply missed, but her spirit and the love she shared will live on forever in the hearts of all those she touched.

Marylou was the loving mother and mother-in-law of Rita Maccini & her husband Mark Horton of Shelburne, Catherine Moran of Tewksbury, James Maccini & his wife Terry of Nashua, NH, Gregory Maccini & his wife Paula of Salem, NH, and Laura Johnson & her husband David of Burlington. She was the devoted sister of Rita Cooke & her husband John Kent Cooke of Middleburg, VA, Joseph Donoghue & his wife Lucille of Woburn, and Catherine "Peggy" Bielsik & her late husband Frank of Anaheim Hills, CA. She was the proud grandmother of William Moran, Jason Moran, Jamie Landry, Joe Maccini, Natasha Maccini, Julia Scannell, Katie Maccini, Jennifer Rubeo, Kelly Gouveia, Elizabeth Iker, Kimberly Johnson, Kristin Pappas, David Johnson, Owen Johnson, Michelle Johnson, Alex Johnson, and James Johnson. She was the great grandmother of Kyle, William, Vaughn, Milena, David, Maxwell, Parker, and Mason. She was also survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Margaret Church in St. Veronica Parish, www.stveronicama.or, 111 Winn Street, Burlington on Monday, December 1 at 10am. Marylou will be interred alongside her parents at Cambridge Cemetery following the funeral mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Marylou's name may be made to "People Helping People of Burlington".

For online guestbook and video tribute see www.sullivanfuneralhome.net.

Arrangements by the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, Burlington.