Marie B. Phelan

She is survived by her dear brother, Dr. John V. Phelan, and by her twelve loved and loving nieces and nephews and their spouses: Maureen Phelan, John V. Phelan, Jr. and his wife Mary, Mark and Robin Phelan, Matthew and Erolynn Phelan, Robert Phelan, Jr. and his wife Kelly Ayotte-Phelan, Michael and Mary Phelan, Lynn Mayoral Candidate Timothy Phelan and his wife Stacy, Vincent and Dorothy Phelan, Jeff and Nell Ann (Phelan) Hiatt, Todd and Kathryn (Phelan) Brown, Peter and Sarah Phelan, and George and Elizabeth (Phelan) Morris, as well as numerous great nephews and nieces, one great-grand nephew and one great-grand niece, and numerous cousins and friends in the Greater Lynn area. Marie was preceded in death by her parents, Judge and Mrs. John V. (Helene) Phelan, her brother Robert G. Phelan and his wife Shirley, and her sister-in-law, Eleanor Phelan.

Marie graduated from the Lynn public Schools, earned her A.B. from Wheaton College and her M.Ed. from Boston University. She also took advanced graduate classes at Tufts, Harvard, Boston University and Salem State. Marie spent her career teaching English at Salem High School, and also taught English at summer programs at Salem High, Lexington High School, and Brookline High School.

Marie retired in 1996, but she never stopped learning and teaching. In retirement, Marie taught English as a Second Language to Russian immigrants at Operation Bootstrap in Lynn. She also became active in teacher certification testing as a proctor and scorer for National Evaluation Systems in South Hadley, MA.

Marie was a life-long communicant at St. Joseph’s Church in Lynn. She was active in St. Joseph’s educational programs, especially in retirement, when she taught English as a Second Language to priests and nuns from Spanish-speaking countries. Marie was a member of the Wheaton College Alumnae Association, the Boston University Alumni Club, Delta Kappa Gamma International – Omega Chapter, and the American Federation of Teachers.

Marie was an avid reader, and in her younger days, she loved European travel, tennis, golf and skiing. Her home was a frequent gathering place for her extended family, especially at Christmas. Those who knew her loved her dearly and will always remember her keen mind, sweet temper and good heart.

Marie’s Funeral will be held from the Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home, 157 Maple Street, Lynn on Thursday at 10AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. John the Evangelist Church, 174 Humphrey Street, Swampscott at 11AM. Interment to follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Lynn. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours on Wednesday from 4-7PM.