Published in the January 30, 2017 edition.
WOBURN — Agnes F. (Carey) Bradley Marderosian, 100, passed away at the Wakefield Center/ Genesis Health Care on January 28 due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.
Agnes was born in Woburn on October 25, 1916, the youngest of nine children, to Elizabeth R. (Maguire) and Patrick J. Carey. Her siblings were Lawrence, Elizabeth, John, Esther, Philip, William, Leo and George F. (Fred).
Agnes attended St. Charles School and graduated with high honors. She continued her education at Lowell Teachers College (UMass/Lowell) and graduated with a B.S. Ed.
She began her teaching career as a substitute teacher in short term/ long term assignments within the Woburn elementary schools system. Agnes left teaching in 1942 when she married John E. Bradley of Woburn.
Agnes returned to teaching in 1951. She taught first grade at the Charles Goodyear School in East Woburn until 1963. During that period Agnes continued her education evenings and summers and earned a M.Ed. and a CAGS-Certificate in Advanced Graduate Study in Ed. from Salem State College. She later began a course of study at Northeastern University completing her Masters in School Counseling to be qualified as a member of the Guidance Department of the Woburn school system.
She was the first woman counselor at the John F. Kennedy Jr. High, and upon the opening of the Daniel L. Joyce Jr. High she became the head guidance counselor until her retirement in 1974.
During her years in the Woburn school system Agnes was president of the Woburn Teachers’ Union and was also very involved in community issues and local and state politics.
In 1964 Agnes was one of the original group of municipal employees who established the Woburn Municipal Federal Credit Union. She served as a volunteer member of the board of directors for many years.
Agnes also served on the Woburn High School Scholarship Committee for several years.
In 1970 Agnes married Harry Marderosian. Harry was the head of the WHS Science Department and the varsity baseball coach. They had 19 wonderful years together until Harry’s unexpected death.
Agnes had a love for travel, whether to Hampton Beach, aka “Little Woburn” or to destinations around the world. Many of the adventures were organized by St. Charles Parish, where upon her retirement, Agnes was a daily Communicant and volunteered as a Eucharistic Minister. It was at St. Charles Church in 1997 that she was introduced to Mr. Joseph Pecora.
They became great friends. Along with playing “cribbage” and “bid forty-five” daily, Agnes joined Joe in delivering “Meals on Wheels.” They did this into their nineties.
Of all of Agnes’ adventures her greatest devotion was to her family. She attended every event possible for her five beloved grandchildren and her five beloved great-grandchildren.
Agnes was an eternal optimist. She always saw the bright side of life, and never failed to count her blessings. She had a great sense of humor and loved to socialize. Shopping for clothes was one of her greatest passions.
Even the staff of the nursing home referred to her as the “fashionista.” Outside of spending time with her family she enjoyed reading and doing crossword puzzles.
Of all Agnes’ adventures throughout her lifetime, the greatest of which was being with her family.
Agnes is survived by her daughters Betsy Sheeran, and her husband Richard Pearson, and Joan and her husband Richard Sweeney Sr.; five grandchildren: Charles G., Marnie E. and Kevin H. Sheeran and Richard F. Sweeney Jr. and his wife Kelley and Timothy W. Sweeney and his wife Maureen, and five great-grandchildren: Emily Sheeran, Kaitlin, Aidan, Caileigh and Patrick, all of Wakefield.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Charles Church, 280 Main St., Woburn, on Tuesday, January 31, at 10 a.m. Interment is private. There are no calling hours.
