Patricia O'Dea Currie

dies in Palm Beach at 93

Patricia O’Dea Currie, beloved and devoted wife, cherished and caring mother, dear and unwavering friend, passed away peacefully of natural causes at 2:22 am, Sunday, May 3rd, 2020, at her residence in Palm Beach, FL. She was a former resident of Chelmsford and Hyannis Port, MA.

Patricia was lucky from the start. Born on Sept. 13, 1926 in Lowell, MA to Daniel D. O'Dea, a Lowell automobile dealer, and Catherine (Cooney) O'Dea, she was the first of four girls raised in a home filled with music, song and dance, animals, and politics. The 5’11” beauty, called “Long Boat” by her father, would become an astute sportswoman, adventurer, car aficionado, card player, chocolate connoisseur, and loyal NASCAR, New England Patriots, Boston Bruins, and Red Sox fan. Elliot’s Hot Dogs and Mrs. Nelson’s Candy House have lost a loyal customer.

Patricia was a graduate of the Rogers Hall School in Lowell and an alumna of Marymount College in Tarrytown, NY. During the summer after her freshman year in college, Patricia had a horseback riding accident. While recuperating in a full body cast, she met the love of her life, Rodger Currie. After Rodger returned from serving as a U.S. Marine dive bomber pilot in WWII, he asked the elegant “Pat” if he could accompany her to one of her afternoon Boston Braves games. She was a good judge of character. When, after a mere seven dates, Rodger asked for her hand in marriage, her mother flatly responded: “Why, you hardly know him!” But she knew. She could always pick a winner, whether in a husband, horse racing, baseball team, or friends.

Married sixty-one years, Pat and Rodg raised seven children. Pat was an active PTA member and Cub Scout Den mother. She navigated the children through America’s turbulent 60s and 70s, focusing them on piano lessons, tennis, swimming, and sailing, and endured many an interminable ice hockey season during unforgiving Massachusetts winters (while keeping them all fed). They invited the kids to tag along to sailing races, Bruins games, the Super Bowl, and offshore cruising.

Pat’s exposure to politics began at a young age through her father, an elected Massachusetts delegate to the Democratic National Conventions. Deep friendships that lasted a lifetime grew as local politics became national, and she was a first-hand witness to history, even filming JFK’s 1960 election morning on his Hyannis Port lawn, which she later donated to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

Patricia played the piano beautifully, by ear, and could whistle the soundtrack to many a show tune or movie. She was an avid reader, dedicated cinephile, and natural detective, all of which fatefully came together while at a boxing match when she correctly identified one of the FBI's "Most Wanted" fugitives seated in the front row.

Known as their “Nana,” Pat greatly enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She took their care seriously, but never took herself too seriously. She counseled, “Whatever you do, do it well. Be humble. And avoid drama in your life.”

Always one for a good ending, Patricia’s lifelong lucky streak continued in her daughters’ care at home when she received last rites virtually from Father Luca Pedroli in Rome, Italy.

God gave her to us for 93 wonderful years.

Patricia was an honoree of "Cercle Fleur-de-lis" Alumnae Council of her alma mater, Marymount College, and a U.S. representative of Ireland’s Dysert O’Dea Clan Association. In Palm Beach, she was a member of The Society of The Four Arts, the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, the St. Edward Guild, The Palm Beach Yacht Club and former member of The Beach Club. She was a longtime member of The Hyannisport Club, The Hyannis Port Yacht Club, The Hyannis Port Civic Association, and West Beach Club. She was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Chelmsford, St. Francis Xavier Church in Hyannis, and St. Edward Church in Palm Beach.

Patricia is survived by six children: Daniel O'Dea Currie of Boston, MA, Gail Currie Dierdorff (Larry) of Redlands, CA, Susan Currie Toth of Carlisle, MA, Patricia Currie Loveday of Norwich, CT, Lisa Currie of Palm Beach, FL, and Rodger Currie (Nickie) of Washington, DC; fourteen grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She was particularly close to Kathleen McCartin Evans (Bill), Michael McCartin (Nancy), Bobby Sayers, and Tyrone Sayers (Mark) as well as her lifelong “sisters and brother” Mary Jo Clasby, Ann Gargan King, and Joseph F. Gargan (deceased). Mrs. Currie is predeceased by her husband, Dr. L. Rodger Currie and their beloved son, Christopher; her three cherished O’Dea sisters: Mary Joy McCartin (Larry) of Lowell, Gail Sayers of Chelmsford, and Donna Connell (Jack) of Westford, MA; and, her sons-in-law Michael C. Toth of Carlisle and Charles J. Loveday of Hyannis, MA.

Mrs. Currie will be laid to rest at Pine Ridge Cemetery in Chelmsford beside her husband and son. A memorial mass will be held at a future date. E-condolences at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to The Town of Chelmsford Christopher Currie Scholarship Fund at Chelmsford High School or the Christopher Currie Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund at St. Anselm College. Arrangements by O'Donnell Funeral Home in Lowell (978) 458-8768 and Quattlebaum Funeral Home in West Palm Beach.

Marion B. Bergeron

Devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, cousin and friend;

Marion B. (Walwood) Bergeron, 93, of the Highlands section of the City, passed away on Sunday morning May 3, 2020 at Lowell General Hospital. She was the beloved wife of the late Marcel R. Bergeron who died October 29, 2015.
Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, November 5, 1926, the daughter of the late Thomas J. and the late Beatrice (Donohoe) Walwood, she was a communicant of St. Margaret of Scotland Church.

Marion attended Lowell schools, was a graduate of Lowell High School, Class of 1944, and was a member of the Girl Officers.  She went on to attend Emerson College in Boston.
Prior to her retirement, Marion served as personal secretary to U.S. Army Colonel Dunn at Fort Devens for several years.

Active with her parish, she was a former Prefect for the St. Margaret’s Ladies Sodality. An expert seamstress, Marion enjoyed knitting, crochet and cross stitch.
Marion loved “Muffy” the Cairn Terrier, was an enthusiastic member of TOPS, worked out regularly at Therafit and never missed the daily Jumble Puzzle.

She is survived by her daughter Bette Ann Callaghan and her husband David of Foxboro; her son Mark T. Bergeron of Vancouver, WA; her loving granddaughter Genevieve M. (Callaghan) Messina and her husband Anthony of Boston; her great-grandson Paul J. Messina; many beloved cousins from the Ouellette, Beakey and Donohoe families; her extended family the Callaghans, Crudups and Messinas; and several dear friends including Louise Osborn, Fran and Eddy Dufromont and Louise Mahoney.

She was also the sister of the late J. Thomas Walwood with whom she shared a love of opera..

Due to the Covid 19 health crisis, federal and state restrictions, all services will be private. Her graveside services were held at St. Patrick Cemetery and her Celebration of Life will be held at a later date to be announced. E-condolences at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in her memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN, 38101. Arrangements by the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME – LOWELL – (978) 458-8768.

Ramona J. “Mona” Gendron

Beloved sister, aunt, grandaunt, and friend;

Ramona J. “Mona” Gendron, 64, of Lowell passed away peacefully Tuesday April 21, 2020 at Lowell General Hospital.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, a daughter of the late Raymond P. and the late Mary C. (Meehan) Gendron, she attended Lowell schools and was a graduate of Lowell High School Class of 1974.

Mona was a loving sister with endless energy and an appetite for adventure. Mona brought excitement and joy wherever she went. She loved her family, Walter, her dog Tina Marie and her friends at the Lowell Housing Authority.

She is survived by her brother Raymond P. Gendron and his wife Pamela of Tyngsboro; four sisters Catherine A. “Kitty” Duffey and her husband Brian of Chelmsford, Christine M. Raymond and her husband Michael of Livermore, CA, Jacqueline Taylor and her husband David of Nashua, NH and Josephine G. McCarthy and her husband Christopher of Glastonbury, CT; many loving nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews; and her longtime companion Walter  Early of Lowell.

In light of the Covid 19 health crisis and federal and state restrictions, a Private Graveside Service was held for her family. A Celebration of Life service will be held for Mona at a later date. E-condolences at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in her memory to Lowell General Hospital Philanthropy Dept. for the Nurse’s Fund, 295 Varnum Ave., Lowell, MA 01854. Arrangements by the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME – LOWELL – (978) – 458-8768.

Eugene F. “Gene” Welch, Jr.

Retired Lowell school teacher;

Eugene F. “Gene” Welch, Jr., 85, of Lowell, a well-known local educator, passed away Sunday morning at the Palm Center in Chelmsford.
He was the loving husband of the late Claire M. (McGaughey) Welch who died February 2006.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, a son of the late Eugene F. and the late Mary A. (McGuire) Welch, he attended Lowell schools and was a graduate of Lowell School in the Class of 1951.
Gene continued his education at Lowell Technological Institute (nka U/Mass Lowell) where he received a Bachelor of Science in Leather Engineering in 1956. He then attained his Master’s in Mathematics from Fitchburg State University in 1965.
A veteran of the Korean War, Gene proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Army.

Prior to his retirement, Gene was a Lowell school teacher having taught at both the Moody and Sullivan Junior High Schools. In addition, he was a part-time Professor in Continuing Education at U/Mass Lowell.
A devout Catholic, Gene was a daily communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church in Lowell until his recent illness.
Gene was a Lifetime member of the Lowell Lodge of Elks.

However, the times he cherished most was with his family, especially his grandchildren.

Gene is survived by three children Eugene F. “Gene” Welch and his wife Lauri of Lowell, Bethanne Welch of Lowell and Kevin M. Welch and his wife Jacqui Danis of Westford; four grandchildren Alison Welch Murray and her husband Tyler of Tewksbury, Sarah A. Welch of Gilford, NH, Connor Welch and Dylan Welch both of Westford; and many nieces and nephews.

In light of the Covid 19 health crisis and federal and state restrictions, Gene’s Funeral Services were private with burial at St. Mary Cemetery. His Funeral Mass and Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. E-condolences at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to the Lowell Association for the Blind, 169 Merrimack St., Lowell, MA 01852 or the Merrimack Valley Food Bank, 735 Broadway St., Lowell, MA 01854. Arrangements by the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME – LOWELL - (978) 458-8768.