Mary J. Stella, 78, of Peabody, died Tuesday morning at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers following a brief illness. She was the devoted wife of the late James W. Stella Sr.
Born in Boston, she was the daughter of the late Matthew and Elizabeth (Lacey) Connolly. She was raised and educated in Roxbury and was a graduate of Mission High School. She lived in Peabody for the past 46 years.
After high school, Mary attended Mansfield Beauty Academy in Boston and received her certificate of cosmetology. She worked independently for over 50 years as a hairdresser on the North Shore before retiring. Mary volunteered for The Home for Little Wanderers and also when her children were younger, she volunteered at their grammar school.
Mary is survived by a son, James Stella Jr., and his wife Karen of Leominster, a daughter, Jeanine and her husband Timothy Gaudet of Dracut, a brother, Matthew Connolly of Calif., three sisters, Elizabeth McGrath of Weymouth, Pauline Magoon of Plymouth and Josephine Connolly of South Boston, and is also survived by five grandchildren, Zoey and Zachary Gaudet, and Bryan, James, and Joya Stella. She was the twin sister of the late Joseph Connolly.
ARRANGEMENTS: A remembrance of her life will be held on Friday, February 3, 2012, at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody, from 4:00 until 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday at 11:00 AM at St. Adelaide’s Church, 708 Lowell St., Peabody, to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Expressions of sympathy can be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701 in her memory.
