Marie was born on June 18, 1934, in Peabody, MA, to Dr. J. Henry and Helen (Moriarty) Higgins. After graduating as valedictorian from Ste. Chretienne Academy in 1952, Marie went on to earn her BA in history from the College of New Rochelle (New Rochelle, NY) in 1956, and her MA in education from Boston College in 1958. On June 28, 1959, Marie married Dr. John J. Grady, Jr., eventually moving to Danvers, MA, to start their family. In 1971, Marie and John moved their family to Old Town. It was here in Maine where Marie and John raised their six daughters and where Marie continued her career as an educator. She taught social studies and government at Central High School in East Corinth during the 1980s and went on to become an associate professor of history and government at the University of Maine. She loved teaching and took great pride in her role with the young adults in her classes. She continued to teach until she was 80 years old.
Before moving to Maine in the early 1970s, Marie was very active in local and state politics in Massachusetts. She served as chairperson of the Danvers School Board and ran for the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
Marie was predeceased by her beloved husband of 37 years, John. She is survived by her six daughters and their families: Maureen Grady Moore (Bangor) and her son John; Patricia Grady Joy (Brewer) and her husband, Jim, and sons Jacob and Jarrod; Anne Marie Grady (Alexandria, VA); Marcia Grady Brogan (Falmouth) and her husband, Joel, and children Justin and Julia; Barbara Grady Belmarsh (Scituate, MA) and her husband, Adam, and sons Grady and Ryan; and Susan Grady McMullen (Yonkers, NY) and her husband, Jim, and sons Connor, Michael, Brian, and Liam. She will be missed by several close friends and family members, both in the Bangor area as well as in Massachusetts.
Nothing made Marie happier than spending time with her grandchildren. They were the light of her life and she would travel at a moment's notice to be with them; they, in turn, adored their Nana and especially cherished her adventurous spirit. She had a particularly special touch when her grandchildren were babies. She could rock them to sleep and hold them for hours as they snuggled in her arms. They were blessed to have had this time with her.
Relatives and friends are invited to call 5-7pm, Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at Birmingham Funeral Home, 438 Main St. Old Town. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10am, Wednesday, February 5 at the Parish of the Resurrection, Our Lady of Wisdom/Newman Center, 83 College Ave., Orono with Rev. Kyle Doustou, officiating. Spring interment will be at St. Mary's Cemetery, Sylvan Street, Danvers, Massachusetts. The family would like to thank the caring staff at Westgate Manor and St. Joseph's Hospital for the wonderful care they provided. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations in Marie's memory be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 383 US Route One, Suite 2C, Scarborough, ME 04074.
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