Enjoyed travel, the theater, golf, gardening and an accomplished quilter
MELROSE — Mary Lou Strain (nee Phinney) was born in Boston on March 24, 1923. She passed away peacefully in Lowell General Hospital on July 5 after a four-week illness. She left this earth sheltered in the embrace of her three loving children. Mary Lou was predeceased by her husband, Paul Strain and her sister, Margaret Hinckley.
Mary Lou was born in Boston to Hugh and Grace Phinney. She attended Winthrop High School and earned a Bachelor’s Degree at Framingham State College and a Master’s Degree at Salem State College. Mary Lou was a long-time resident of Melrose.
Mary Lou married Paul Strain upon graduating from college and the end of World War II. They enjoyed a wonderful life together raising their three children: Carolyn Rogers, Paula McMullen and Robert Strain. Mary Lou’s dedication and devotion to her family were boundless. She was the role model anyone would want for a mother. She loved, supported and encouraged her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren. They, in turn, cherished the time spent in her company at her home and on fun-filled vacations with her.
A committed public schools educator who loved nurturing young minds, Mary Lou worked for the city of Medford as a Home Economics teacher, as the Head of the Home Economics Department and finally as the Head of the Science Department. She also taught in the Melrose Wakefield Hospital School of Nursing.
Mary Lou was devoted to her religious faith throughout her long life. She was an active member of the Incarnation Catholic Church in Melrose, where she served as a lector and a Eucharistic Minister. She lived her faith and shared it with all in her life.
As a passionate life-long learner, Mary Lou enjoyed travel, the theater, art galleries and voraciously reading history books and biographies. She loved to golf and was a long-time member of Bellevue Golf Club in Melrose, which she enjoyed immensely. Mary Lou also enjoyed cultivating her beautiful gardens. She loved getting her hands in the rich soil and watching plants and flowers grow. Mary Lou was an accomplished quilter and created many of her own gorgeous outfits by hand.
Mary Lou Strain will be remembered for her kindness, her compassion, her wisdom, her caring concern about the world around her and her wonderful sense of humor. Oh, what an infectious laugh she shared with all of us.
Mary Lou was the devoted wife of the late Paul Joseph Strain. Beloved mother of Carolyn Rogers and her husband James of Harwich Port; Paula McMullen of Canton; and Robert Strain and his wife Sandra Chinavare of North Chelmsford. Cherished grandmother of Rebecca, Bryan, Rachel, Sean, Kate and Paul. Proud great grandmother of Luke, Leah, James, Parker, Brett, Gavin, Jack and Caleb. Also survived by many loving nieces & nephews.
Visitation was held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St., Melrose on Monday, July 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at Incarnation Church, 425 Upham St., Melrose on Tuesday, July 11 at 10 a.m. followed by a burial at Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose. Relatives and friends were respectfully invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a charity of your choice. To send a message of condolence, please visit www.gatelyfh.com.