Mary Shortell Lynch Cronin of Peabody, formerly of Salem, passed away peacefully on January 19th at Sunrise of Lynnfield surrounded by loved ones.

Born October 15,1932 in Manchester NH, Mary was the daughter of the late Henry Lynch and Mary Shortell Lynch. She moved to Concord, New Hampshire where she spent the happiest years of her childhood. She moved to Salem, MA in 1943 and graduated from St. James High School and Salem State Teachers College in 1954. Mary married Jim, the love of her life in 1955. After raising her family, she returned to work at Salem City Hall.  She went on to teach in the Salem Public Schools, retiring after many wonderful years in the Business Department at Salem High School. Mary loved to read, sing in the choir and travel. As an only child, family was everything to her. Mary was a woman of faith who overcame multiple health issues and although a woman of small stature, she had a strong will.

She was predeceased by her husband James D. Cronin and is survived by her four children, Maureen Cloutier and husband Bill, of New Milford, CT, Cathy O'Brien and husband Bob, of Rockland, MA, James D Cronin, Jr and wife Linda of Peabody, MA and Elaine Bombaci and husband Bill also of Peabody, MA. She was blessed with eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren, Lt. Col. William Cloutier, his wife Brooke and their boys Conor, Brandon, and Aaron of Las Vegas, NV, Cara Cloutier of Pembroke, MA, Kyle Cloutier and her husband Doug Klein of Los Angeles, CA, Kevin O'Brien his wife Michelle and children Lucas and Leyla, Kaityln O'Brien of Pembroke, MA, Mark Cronin, Connor Bombaci and Brian Bombaci, all of Peabody, MA.

Visiting hours will be held at the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St, Salem on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 from 4 to 7 pm.  Funeral Mass will be held at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 2 Margin St, Peabody on Wednesday at 11 am.  Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Parkinson's Disease Association, 85 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118.  For additional information or online guest book please call 978-744-0497 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.