Marie (Bickford) Cranney, 88, died peacefully on Sunday, September 15, 2013, surrounded by her loving family at the Kaplan Family Hospice House, following a brief illness. She spent most of her life living on Buffum Street in Salem, raising six children, and working as a nurse at North Shore Children's Hospital.

Marie was born in Lynn and graduated from Lynn English High School and the North Shore Children's Hospital School of Nursing.

In July 1950 she married James P. Cranney of Salem. Their marriage lasted nearly 50 years, until James' death in May 2000. They raised six children in Salem and later moved to Damon Street in Danvers. She resided at Herrick House in Beverly for the past 2 years.

Marie's life was devoted to her family. She was a gentle source of love, compassion, and support to her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Their needs and interests always came first for Marie. Her selfless and caring nature characterized her life and will serve as a lasting legacy for those who knew her.

She is survived by a daughter Patricia Lahey and husband Stephen of Farmington, CT, sons Paul and wife Denise of Danvers, Brian and wife Sheila of Lee, NH, Stephen and wife Allison of Dacula, GA and William and wife Colleen of Exton, PA, a sister Barbara Rafuse of Framingham, and a daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Cranney of Peabody. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son Michael; by four brothers, Harry, Charlie, Howie, and Ralph Bickford; and by her mother Helen Bickford.

She is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.


Her funeral will be held from the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St., (cor of North St.) Salem, on Saturday, September 21, 2013 at 9:00 A.M. followed by a Funeral Mass at St. James Church, 161 Federal St., Salem, MA at 10:00 A.M. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held at the Funeral Home on Friday from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Interment in St. Mary's Cemetery, Salem. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Marie's memory can be made to Mass General for Children at North Shore, care of North Shore Medical Center, Development Office, 81 Highland Ave., Salem, MA, 01970.