Mary Claire Burns

Mary “Claire” (Fahey) Burns of Abington, MA, formerly of Somerville, passed peacefully on February 10, 2018 at home surrounded by her family.  She was the beloved wife of the late Francis J. Burns.  Devoted mother to Julia Burns, Mary Claire Burns-Santora and Teresa Burns; Mother-in-Law to Arthur Santora;  Loving Nana to Brooke Martin and Grannana to Skylar and Jaydin Martin;  Loving sister of James Fahey, the late Theresa Laffin and the late Margaret Leonard;  Sister-in-law to Albert and Elizabeth Burns and Sandra Burns;  Claire is also survived by many nieces, nephews, her friend Carol Gough and many other close friends.

Claire was born in East Boston, MA and grew up in Somerville, MA, where she was a proud graduate of Saint Theresa of the Little Flower School and Somerville High School.  During these years she formed lifelong friendships with Jean, Peggy, Doris, Catherine and Gracie.  From the age of 5 throughout her life Helen (Haggerty) Hoey  remained her best friend, both would move to the South Shore, and with their husbands, Frank and Jimmy, raise their children together.

Claire loved to spend time with her extended family and friends.  She enjoyed traveling, especially to her parents’ Julia and Patrick Fahey birthplace of Ireland to visit with her many cousins. Her favorite traveling companion was her sister Theresa whether it was to Bingo, Foxwoods, Cross-country or Scotland.  She loved to read the newspaper and always maintained a keen interest in politics and entertained herself with detective programs and teaching her great grandchildren and caregivers her version of Poker.  More often than not winning nearly every hand just ask her friend and caregiver Kristen.

Funeral from the Quealy & Son Funeral Home 116 Adams Street, Abington Friday February 16 at 8am followed by a funeral mass in St. Bridget Church, Abington 9am. Visitation Thursday 4 to 8pm. Interment St. Patrick Cemetery, Rockland. 

I lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Catholic TV, P.O. Box 9196, Watertown, MA  02471 or Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, c/o Massachusetts General Hospital Development Office, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA  02114.

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