Mary Louise Maloney

MARY LOUISE (TWOHIG) MALONEY, 87, died on April 9, 2020, of undisclosed causes after a brief illness. A longtime resident of Malden, she had also resided at New Horizons in Woburn and most recently at Wingate Residence in Norton.  At the time of her death, she was being cared for at HopeHealth in Providence, Rhode Island.

Mary Lou was born on May 26, 1932 in Boston and raised in Dorchester. In 1954, she graduated from Emmanuel College with a degree in history and a minor in education. Mary Lou and her future husband, Lawrence Edward Maloney, of Watertown had met briefly in college, but then, they reconnected after meeting again in Falmouth.

On September 12, 1959, Mary Lou and Lawrence were wed at St. Kevin’s Church in Dorchester. They honeymooned in Bermuda.

They had three children. Life threw Mary Lou a devastating challenge when Lawrence died of cancer on October 5, 1967, leaving her a widow with three young sons aged 7, 5, and 3.

Along with raising her sons, she found a purpose in life by becoming a teacher at the Glenwood Elementary School in Malden. She taught the first grade there for over 25 years, often receiving compliments from second grade teachers on the reading proficiency of the students whom she’d instructed the year before in her class.

Mary Lou was passionate not only about teaching but also about furthering her own education. While teaching at the Glenwood, she attended Salem State University and earned her Master’s Degree (+ 30) in Reading Education.

In a paper for a class at Salem State, titled “My Philosophy of Education,” Mary Lou wrote: “As a teacher, I should strive to create the environment that will foster growth through motivation, discovery and self-fulfillment.”

On a personal note, she wrote in her paper, “When my husband died and I was left with three young sons, I was left with feelings of grief and inadequacy. I didn’t see how I could possibly cope with the future. It was with the love of a close family and humanistic friends that I was able to continue on in life.”

She got an “A.”

Demure and petite on the outside, Mary Lou was a ball of energy and a force to be reckoned with on the inside. She had a dry wit.

Mary Lou enjoyed spending time with her family, vacationing in Ogunquit, Maine and on Cape Cod. An avid reader, she also enjoyed watching her favorite soap operas and other shows on television.

Mary Lou loved to travel. During the course of her life, she visited Greece, Italy, Alaska, Chicago, California, New York City, Jamaica, and Hawaii.

She was preceded in death by her parents John J. and Margaret H. (Carolan) Twohig, her devoted sister, Patricia M. Twohig, and another sister, Catherine (Twohig) Nelsen.

She is survived by three sons, Lawrence Edward (Anne) of Chicago, Michael John of Los Angeles, and David Christopher (Lisa) of Norton, and three grandchildren, Amelia, L.J., and Brian, to whom she was devoted.

Due to coronavirus restrictions, there will be no wake or funeral. Burial is private. A celebration of her life will be held after social-distancing restrictions are lifted. Donations in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Louise Maloney, please visit our floral store.