Mary E. Locicero

Mary Elizabeth (Duffy) Locicero, age 93, of Milford, NH passed away peacefully at her home on June 1, 2017, surrounded by her loving family. Mary is survived by her devoted husband; she was married to R. Charles (“Charlie”) Locicero for 65 years. Mary and Charlie had made their home in Framingham, MA for 47 years before moving to Milford in 2013. Born May 11, 1924, in Malden, MA, she was the daughter of the late Edward F. Duffy and Catherine (Veasey) Duffy, who raised their children in Medford, MA as a part of a large extended family and the Irish-American community. Mary was predeceased by two brothers, Edward Duffy and Arthur Duffy, and a sister, Lorraine Duffy. In addition to her husband, Charles, Mary is survived by her three children, their spouses and five grandchildren: daughter Jean Locicero Shankle and her husband Dean, and their two children, son Jeremy Shankle with his wife Elizabeth, and daughter Audrey Shankle; daughter Kathryn Locicero Vanaria and her husband Neil and their son Anthony; son Robert Charles Locicero and his wife Jean Marie (Salisbury) Locicero and their sons Anthony and Daniel. Mary is remembered fondly by the Duffy nieces and nephews and their families. Mary attended Medford High School and was the valedictorian of her class. She made the most of her intellectual gifts by attending Tufts University in the 1940s, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in mathematics; she later worked in the engineering department of General Electric - significant achievements for women of her generation. She met her husband, Charlie, while both were attending graduate classes at Boston University. Mary later earned a Master’s degree in education at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. She taught mathematics in the Framingham, MA school system from 1967 to 1989 years. Mary was at her happiest when surrounded by her family. Her sister Lorraine, with their friend Marilyn Currier, had a special bond that made the three of them inseparable. She loved having her grandchildren stay at her house and looked forward to holidays when everyone was together. Mary had a sharp, analytical mind that drove her love of mathematical puzzles and word games. She volunteered for many years at the food pantry of St. Bridget’s Parish in Framingham, as well as at Birthright, a non-profit providing support for mothers in difficult situations. Calling hours are on Sunday, June 4th from 4:00-8:00 p.m. in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday at 9:00 a.m. in St. Patrick’s Church, 34 Amherst Street, Milford, NH. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in Milford, NH. Donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.