Mary Imelda Boniface

Mary Imelda (Hogan) Boniface joined Jesus on the Feast of the Ascension, May 29, 2025. Born on May 5, 1920, to Thomas Joseph Hogan and Marguerite Ann O’Brien, immigrants from Scotland and Ireland, she was the youngest of six surviving children. “Mel” spent her first 103 years in her beloved city: Lynn. She was educated at Saint Patrick’s Grammar School and graduated from Lynn Classical High School. Like most Lynners, she went to work at the General Electric, where she worked until starting a family. Mel met Charles Anthony Boniface, of Beverly, a Patent Maker Apprentice at GE, and was married at Saint Patrick’s Church on June 27, 1943. They were married 49 years, until Charles’s death August 18, 1992.

Mary Imelda had a strong faith in Jesus and considered her mother a saint. Family was everything. Caring for her family was her number one priority: bringing juice to her husband and children in bed to start their day, having a hot lunch ready when her children came home from Saint Pius V Grammar School, sewing gowns for her daughters’ formal dances, learning to drive in her 40’s, and painting, wallpapering, and making curtains for the home. Her family will especially remember her for her pancakes, apple pie, chicken soup, and pot roast. She was immensely proud of her children - all college educated, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mel was a tried-and-true Red Sox fan.

Surviving Mary Imelda are daughters Carol Ann and husband James Leo Anderson of Reading and Pocasset, MA, Margaret Angela and husband Dennis Kelleher of Marshfield, MA and Venice, FL, Marilyn Rose and husband Duane Johnson of Gilford, NH and Phippsburg, ME, and son John Charles Boniface of South Dennis, MA and Sarasota, FL. Nana to Kristine Anderson, Karin (Scott) Quigley, Alissa (Evan) Gallegos, Katherine Kelleher, Kevin (Rebecca) Kelleher, Maxwell (Monique) Johnson, Meredith (Robby) Dudley, Breanna Boniface, Sean (Savannah) Kelleher, and Rebecca (Jeremy) Ness. Blessed with great-grandchildren Julia and Anna Quigley, Thomas, Caroline and William Gallegos, Alessandro and Lucía Kelleher - Agea, Teddy, Pippa, and Cora Kelleher, Uriah and Athena Johnson, Ophelia and Delilah Dudley, and Jude, Brooks, and Mick Kelleher. Auntie Mel also leaves her precious Goddaughters June Margaret Andrews Horowitz and Susan Casna Pennio, nephews and nieces Nicholas and Sandra Boniface, Rosemarie Hutchinson Murphy, and Bud Hogan. Mary Imelda was preceded in death by her beloved brothers Francis, William, George, and James Hogan, sister Margaret Andrews, and first niece and friend Henrietta “Billie” (Hogan) Trahant.

Mary spent the last two years of her amazing life at Sunrise Senior Living in Lynnfield, where she was loved and cared for by many, especially Bintou, Sanaa, "Lulu", Lucia, Mollie, Vedette, Reine, Nicole, "K" and Elisabeth.

A visitation will be held in the Cuffe McGinn Funeral Home on Saturday, June 14, 2025 from 9-10am with a funeral mass at St Pius V Catholic Church in Lynn at 10:30am. Burial at St Joseph's Cemetery in Lynn will be private.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Mary Imelda's memory to the Saint Pius V School, where all her children attended: 28 Bowler Street, Lynn, MA 01904