Mrs. Mary Daily Neylon

MARY DAILY NEYLON Loving Mother, Grandmother, And Great Grandmother Mary Daily Neylon, a long-time resident of Lowell, who had a long career as an educator in both Lowell and Waltham and was a church volunteer at her local parish died on Friday November 11, 2022. Mary was 93 years old and died surrounded by her loving family, after a short period of declining health. She was the beloved wife of the late Tom Neylon. Mary was born in Medford MA on December 11, 1928 and grew up in Arlington MA, daughter of the late Francis F. Daily and the late Helen (Lynch) Daily. She was educated at Arlington High School, graduated Regis College in 1950 before earning a masters degree from Boston College in 1952. Upon graduation, Mary taught English and Latin at Waltham High School, where she met and later married her husband, Tom Neylon. After taking a few years off to raise her children, Mary re-entered the workforce as a teacher in Waltham and Lowell. She had a reputation as an outstanding teacher who challenged her students to work hard to reach their full potential. Her favorite saying was that “students rise to the level of your expectations”. Mary was a devout Catholic and a communicant at St Margaret Church in Lowell, where she served as a Lector, taught both CCD and Pre-Cana and served on the parish council. In 2011, the Boston Archdiocese awarded her with the prestigious Bishop Cheverus Award in recognition of her significant contributions. She was also proud of her roles as the Secretary of class notes at Regis College and her 25+ year volunteer role at Saints Memorial Hospital. Mary was also a strong supporter of The Jimmy Fund/ Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Mary greatly valued her strong relationships with her large extended family. She had great memories of growing up with her Daily and Lynch relatives, with whom she remained very close throughout her entire life, in both Maine and the Arlington/ Belmont area. These memories included joyful recollections of her childhood summers in Hampton Beach and her summer job at Donovan & Fallon. She loved Lowell, and despite still considering herself a “63 year blow in”, she formed an extremely strong relationship with her Lowell extended family. She deeply loved the McCabe, Durkin, Gorman, Kirwin and Phelps families, and relied on their friendship and support. She could always count on her brother and sister in-laws, nieces and nephews throughout her life. Mary also enjoyed special relationships with her cousin Father Vincent Daily and her parish priest Father Ray Benoit. Mary will be greatly missed, and remembered for her love of a good conversation, black coffee, dinners at the 99 restaurant, lunches with “the girls”, reading books and traveling in Europe during her younger years. She is survived by her children Lainey Martin of Lowell, Catherine and Mark O’Malley of Lowell, Tom and Jennifer (Guido) Neylon of Manhasset NY, Frank and Kathy (Galvin) Neylon of Chelmsford, Maureen Neylon and Ted McNamara of Chicago, IL ; 12 grandchildren, Peter (Andrea) Martin, Kara (Jason) Koch , Jim Martin, Rob (Britt) Martin, Caitlin (Mike) Gudewich, Courtney (Ben) Ratty, Kellen and Tierney McNamara, Joe and Meghan Neylon, Ava and Thomas Neylon ; and 10 great grandchildren Hazel, Oliver, and Wyatt Koch, Jack and Ben Martin, Rory and Harry Martin, Avery and Riley Gudewich and Emma Ratty. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Rose Daily. Mary was predeceased by her loving husband Tom, her daughter Anne, her son Joe, her sister Helen, her brother Frank and her son-in-law Peter Martin, with whom she had a great relationship. Her family loved her deeply, will greatly miss her and is incredibly proud of the strongest woman we ever knew. Family and Friends may call at THE FAY McCABE FUNERAL HOME, 105 MOORE STRRET, LOWELL, on WEDNESDAY, NOV. 16, 2022, from 3 until 8 PM. Mary’s FUNERAL will begin on THURSDAY MORNING, at 9 o’clock from the Funeral Home, followed by her FUNERAL MASS at 10 o’clock at ST. MARGARET CHURCH, 374 STEVENS STREET, LOWELL. Burial will follow in ST. PATRICK’S CEMETERY. As an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations in Mary’s memory to The Jimmy Fund / Dana Farber Cancer Institute (www. Dana-Farber.org) or to The Bridge Club of Greater Lowell, (www.bridgeclubofgreaterlowell.org) phone 978-454-6191. ARRANGEMENTS BY THE FAY McCABE FUNERAL DIRECTORS 978-459-9222 www.faymccabe.com

Mrs. Mary Daily Neylon

December 11, 1928 - November 11, 2022