Mary T (Mullahy) Bourque

Mary T. (Mullahy) Bourque passed away peacefully on December 26, 2025, at Sterling Village Nursing Home. She was born in Fitchburg on January 24, 1943, the daughter of the late Thomas and Mary (Driscoll) Mullahy.

Mary was a graduate of St. Bernard’s High School, Class of 1960. She went on to attend State College at Fitchburg (now Fitchburg State University), where she earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Elementary Education. Mary taught for several years at Reingold and McKay Elementary Schools in Fitchburg before retiring. Her kindness and patience left a lasting impression on countless students.

On July 16, 1966, Mary married the love of her life and high school sweetheart, Michael J. Bourque. Together they shared a lifetime of memories, including a cross-country train trip to San Francisco, trips to Florida with their dear friends, visits to Foxwoods, playing cards, dancing in the kitchen, and spending cherished time with their children and grandchildren. Mary treasured hosting Thanksgiving gatherings with her extended family, loved reading a good book on the porch, and going out to lunch with her close friends Sue O’Sullivan, Judi Seguin, and Mary Dennen.

Her six grandchildren will forever treasure memories of Nana’s chicken soup and icebox cookies, seeing her at their sporting events and school activities, watching her complete her daily crosswords and word scrambles at the kitchen table, and knowing she always had their favorite foods and snacks on hand. They will especially remember her signature snort when something struck her as ridiculous—and her famous line, “I’ll just have a sliver,” whenever dessert was offered.

Mary was a loving and devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She will be remembered for her kindness, quiet strength, and unwavering devotion to her family. Mary’s warmth, love, and gentle spirit will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

She leaves behind her three daughters: Kristine Bassett and her husband Christopher of Littleton, MA; Karen Harrington of Fitchburg, MA; and Dianne Bourque and her husband Gregory Caron of Fitchburg, MA. She also leaves behind her six beloved grandchildren: Travis, Connor and his wife Dominique, Jillian, Michael, Dylan, and Jacob; two great-grandsons Niko and Tatum; her brothers Thomas and John Mullahy; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law Anthony and Lyn Bourque; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She was pre-deceased by her husband of 51 years, Michael Bourque, and by her brother Bernard “Buddy” Mullahy.

At the request of Mary, all funeral services will be private. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Herman J. and Michael J. Bourque Scholarship Fund at AAOFHS,inc., PO box 906, Fitchburg, with Bourque in the memo.