Mary E. Woelfel

Mary E. Woelfel, 63, of Haverhill, passed away on Monday, November 24, 2025, at Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport, MA.
Mary was born in Haverhill on October 23, 1962, the daughter of the late Harry E. and Mary E. (Gilmore) Woelfel. She arrived as the only girl in a family of ten boys (later eleven). Her birth drew attention around the world and culminated in a family appearance on the CBS show I've Got a Secret on Christmas Eve in 1962-Mary was the secret!
Mary was educated in the Haverhill School System and graduated from Haverhill High School with the Class of 1980. She went on to earn both bachelor's and master's degrees in Early Childhood Education. A passionate and dedicated teacher for close to 40 years, she began her career at St. Patrick's in Lawrence while also working at Lawrence General Hospital and later joined the staff at Tilton School until her retirement in 2024.
Her legacy as an educator is beautifully reflected in the words of those who knew her. One colleague shared, "She was so dedicated to making her classroom accessible to all students. She had high expectations for them too and gently nudged them to be the best they could be." A mother of one of Mary's students with Down syndrome remembered, "She was the best teacher we ever had." Mary brought joy to her students and colleagues, wearing a different Christmas sweater every day of December and donning turtlenecks-even in the summer.
Family was Mary's center and greatest source of joy. She loved family gatherings, cookouts at the family home, holiday dinners, Mother's Day celebrations, her father's annual memorial events, and barbecues at Seabrook Beach. She cherished time with her nieces and nephews, loved taking photos with them to capture every occasion, and delighted in talking education with the nieces who followed her-along with her brothers Mike and Kevin, and her father-into teaching.
Generous, caring, and giving, Mary hosted countless gatherings throughout the year. Family members especially remember her preparing the entire Christmas dinner, tirelessly working at the annual Hank Woelfel memorial events, hovering over the stove to perfect the Thanksgiving gravy, cheering on family members at the Yankee Homecoming race, and celebrating afterward at her favorite restaurant, Park Lunch.
One tradition that best captures Mary's thoughtfulness was the Mother's Day celebration she hosted each year-not only for her mother, but also for her sisters-in-law. She prepared all the food and insisted on doing the cleanup so the mothers could relax.
Mary selflessly made great personal sacrifices for her family, often at the expense of fully engaging in life outside the scope of family and teaching. She persevered with quiet strength, never seeking praise or thanks. Her family is especially grateful for her extraordinary dedication to caring for her parents-a responsibility she began at age 25 during her father's battle with Parkinson's disease and continued for nearly 35 years. She tended to their needs above her own and lovingly fulfilled their wish to remain in the family home until their passing.
In addition to her parents, Mary was predeceased by her brother Michael F. Woelfel, who passed away in May 2024.
She is survived by her ten brothers: Stephen E. Woelfel and his wife Jane of Centerville; Brian J. Woelfel and his wife Eileen of Haverhill; Dennis W. Woelfel and his wife Stephanie of Jupiter, FL; Kevin R. Woelfel and his wife Kerry of Haverhill; Daniel R. Woelfel of Haverhill; Thomas P. Woelfel and his wife Tammy of Salem, NH; Timothy P. Woelfel and his wife Roberta of Lowell; Patrick J. Woelfel and his wife Karen of Wheaton, IL; Mark H. Woelfel and his wife Kelli of Franklin; and John R. Woelfel and his wife Sheila of Seabrook, NH. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Maryann Rogers of Bradford, 26 nieces and nephews, and 33 great-nieces and great-nephews.
The family would like to thank the ICU team at Anna Jaques Hospital for the compassion and comfort they provided to Mary.
Relatives, friends, and colleagues are respectfully invited to attend a visitation for Mary on Friday, December 5, from 9:00–10:30 a.m. at Sacred Hearts Church, 165 South Main St., Bradford. Her Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will follow at the church. Interment will be in St. James Cemetery, Haverhill. Arrangements are by the H.L. Farmer & Sons Funeral Homes, Bradford ~ Haverhill.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that gifts be made in Mary's memory to the Michael Woelfel Scholarship Fund. Contributions may be sent to Haverhill High School, c/o The Michael Woelfel Scholarship Fund, 137 Monument Street, Haverhill, MA 01832.
To share a memory or for more information, please visit www.farmerfuneralhomes.com