Mary Beth Brzozowski

Mary Beth (O'Donnell) Brzozowski, longtime resident of Swampscott, Mass., passed away peacefully Saturday at age 72 at the Bertram House in Swampscott after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease.

She was surrounded by numerous family members and friends in the days before her passing, including her beloved husband of more than 50 years, Paul J. Brzozowski.

Born and raised in Freeland and Hazleton, she was the daughter of the late Daniel and Agnes (Brogan) O'Donnell. She began a long career in healthcare at Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, where she met Paul before moving to Massachusetts and settling in Swampscott in 1978.

Mary Beth was a graduate of Hazleton High School, Class of 1968. She received her certificate in medical technology from Atlantic City Hospital and her Bachelor's Degree from Salem State University. She later received her certificate of advanced graduate studies in medical ethics from Creighton University.

For more than 30 years, Mary Beth had a rewarding career at North Shore Medical Center, where she was a medical technologist and laboratory coordinator, developing and leading the state-of-the-art point of care testing and quality assurance programs. Mary Beth retired in 2005 and continued to pursue her vocation in helping others by becoming a medical ethicist specializing in palliative care.

Mary Beth enjoyed volunteering for many organizations, including at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, Mass., and the Care Dimensions organization. She was always taking on new challenges and developing new skills. In retirement, she became a Reiki master and volunteered reiki services. She always took pride in caring for others and making sure everyone around her felt welcomed and comfortable. In addition to volunteering, her other passions included art, walking the beach and traveling. The daughter of a hobby cartoonist, she loved painting, sketching and drawing with charcoal. Above everything, though, Mary Beth's greatest joy was her family, particularly her beloved grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, Daniel Brzozowski and his wife, Amanda, and Maureen Tarpinian and her husband, Peter; four grandchildren, Lillian and Patty Brzozowski and Ceci and Ray Tarpinian; her sisters, Sally O'Donnell and Jane Heisey; her brother-in-law, Paul Dufallo; her beloved niece, Beth Pacewicz; her nephew, Colin Dufallo; her cousin, Mark Shaughnessy; as well as many other cousins and relatives.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Kathleen Dufallo.

Her funeral will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday from Solimine Funeral Home, 67 Ocean St. (Route 1A), Lynn, Mass., followed by a Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church, Swampscott.

Burial will be in Swampscott Cemetery. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited.

Visiting hours are from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923, or the Bertram House, 565 Humphrey St., Swampscott, MA 01907.

Directions and guestbook are at www.solimine.com.