Marion L. Pare

Marion L. (O'Brien) Pare, age 94, passed away peacefully in the Villages at Willow Crossing in Mansfield, Massachusetts on Friday, January 27, 2017. Born in Charlestown, Massachusetts on February 12, 1922, she was the middle daughter of the late John J. and Grace E. (Cummings) O'Brien. As a young girl, she attended Saint Francis Catholic School at the top of Bunker Hill, however after her family settled in Arlington, while Marion was in the 5th grade, she began attending Saint Agnes Catholic School. Marion was not fond of the nuns at the school, however she always held her tongue, as her Aunt Helen was a nun. She made life-long friendships in Arlington and loved staying in touch with them. While in the 7th grade, Marion's father, a guard at the Charlestown Prison, earned a big promotion to become the Assistant Superintendent at the Norfolk Prison. The young family packed their belongings to move from the big city to little Norfolk, without a car. Since Norfolk was such a small town and did not have a high school, Marion graduated from Walpole High School with the Class of 1939. She spent one year after graduation attending the Chandler Secretarial School in Norwood, where she made many close friends.

Marion began going with a man by the name of Henry Pare. After he enlisted in the service he gave his car to Marion, however the stipulation was, in order to get the car back, Henry had to marry Marion. He did just that on October 31, 1945, and the young couple made their home in Walpole, where they raised their three daughters. Marion took a secretarial job with the Walpole School Department in the Superintendent's Office. She retired after 20 years, serving three Superintendents.

Marion became very involved in her new hometown of Walpole. As a devoted Catholic, she was a communicant of Blessed Sacrament Church, where she belonged to the Catholic Women's Club and the Sodality. She was also a member of the Walpole Women's Club and frequently volunteered her time at the Walpole Food Pantry and the Walpole Senior Center. In addition to her volunteerism, she and Henry kept a very full social calendar, as they enjoyed attending dinners and dances with their friends that they met in Walpole.

In her retirement, Marion found her passion for travel. She and Henry spent most winters as snowbirds in Florida, however she took some foreign trips with her family as well. One of her favorite trips was to Italy to visit her grandson Matt in Venice, the biggest thrill of the trip was visiting the Vatican and eating gelato. She also traveled to Paris, where she ate ice cream along the Seine River every night, as her claim to her longevity was ice cream, twice daily, and preferably maple walnut or peppermint stick. Marion also enjoyed quiet time too, she loved the Walpole Public Library, and after moving to Common Street, she and her sister, Ruth, enjoyed time together on the front porch counting cars. However most of all, she adored the time that she spent with her grandchildren, always being sure to tell them how handsome or beautiful they were and commenting on their gifts and talents.

For the past year and a half, Marion lived at the Village at Willow Crossing in Mansfield, where she thoroughly embraced the new adventure, engaging in every activity offered. Most nights, she could be found in the pub before dinner. She loved the staff there as they brought constant joy to her through her last days.

Beloved wife of the late Henry J. Pare.
Loving mother of Jeanne E. Shaw and her husband Ronald of Eastham, Janet A. Zabrosky and her husband Steven of Vero Beach, Florida, and Judith M. Kackloudis and her husband John of Foxborough.
Cherished grandmother of 8 and great grandmother of 4.
Sister of Ruth M. While of Walpole and the late Grace E. O'Brien.
Also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Marion's Life Celebration on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 from 4-7 PM and Wednesday, February 1, 2017 from 10-10:30 AM in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Blessed Sacrament Church, 10 Diamond Street, Walpole on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow in Saint Francis Cemetery in Walpole. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: The Horace Mann Educational Associates, 8 Forge Park East, Franklin, MA 02038.