Darlene Pye

Mrs. Darlene (Dunn) Pye, age 61, of Swampscott, died peacefully in her home Saturday afternoon of complications from breast cancer. She was the beloved wife of Robert C. Pye, with whom she shared 33 years of marriage.

Born in Bridgeport, CT, she was the daughter of Harold C. “Bing” and Natalie (Schnare) Dunn of Englewood, FL. She was raised in Fairfield, CT and was a resident of Swampscott since 1978.

Darlene spent many years working in the main office of the Swampscott Middle School. Active in community affairs, she was also a longtime Town Meeting Member and belonged to the P.T.A. She was an avid volunteer and enjoyed gift-giving as well as driving and giving rides to anyone who needed them. She was a surrogate mother to many at Boston College and accepted anyone who came through her door as her own.

In addition to her husband, she leaves her daughter, Molly Pye of Swampscott and stepdaughter, Allyson Gartley of Hanover. She was the sister of Jon Dunn of Peterborough, NH and Deedee Rapp of Shelburne Falls. Also survived by her 2 grandchildren, Jacob and Megan Gartley, her nieces and nephews, Lauren Henry, Darren Spinelli, Natalie Dunn, Elise Dunn, Connor Henry and Dylan and Clifford Omelia as well as many close friends.

Darlene’s Memorial Service will be held in The First Church in Swampscott, Congregational, 40 Monument Ave SWAMPSCOTT on Friday at 11:00AM. Relatives and friends kindly invited. Memorial Visitation in the CUFFE-MCGINN FUNERAL HOME, 157 Maple St. Lynn on Thursday from 5-8PM. Gifts in Darlene’s memory may be sent to the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Development Office, 165 Cambridge St. Suite 600, Boston, MA 02114. A Scholarship has also been established in honor of Darlene and donations may be sent to the Darlene Pye Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Sovereign Bank, 495 Paradise Rd. Swampscott, MA 01907.