Original member of July 4th committee
NORTH READING — Mary (Kalkanajian) Stanuchenski – 92, of North Reading, formerly of Chelsea, died Friday evening, November 7, 2014 at Winchester Hospital. She was the beloved wife of the late Frank Stanuchenski, who died this past December.
Born in Chelsea on July 3, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Nishan K. and Bertha (Soultanian) Kalkanajian. Mary was raised and attended school in Chelsea and was a graduate of Chelsea High School.
She worked for the Walden Shoe Factory in Lynn, the Watertown Arsenal, the Charlestown Navy Yard, Lynn Moccasin, school cafeterias in North Reading; she sold War Stamps at the E. Ethel Little School, the Abbott Shoe Store in North Reading, the North Reading Town Hall and as a domestic engineer.
Mary was a resident of North Reading for the past 59 years. She was a member of St. Theresa’s Church, the Garden Club, Historical Society, she was a former president of the Golden Age Club and one of the original members of the 4th of July Committee. Mary worked at the voting polls and at the Town Meetings, she also helped with the town census and she was voted “Citizen of the Year” in North Reading. She was an avid candlepin bowler, becoming “Team” State Championship Bowler in 1962. She traveled the U.S. and abroad with the team and she won the Canadian Cup. Mary also chaperoned a Spanish Class to Spain.
Mary loved to cook, she was an excellent seamstress, she loved to sew, knit, crochet, quilt, do cross word puzzles and garden. She volunteered at the Lowell Spinners baseball games in Lowell, selling raffle tickets for the new teams each year. She was an avid Red Sox and Patriot Fan. She had a great collection of sports items of both teams.
Her birthday was July 3 and she enjoyed going to the 4th of July Fireworks in Wilmington to celebrate with her family. Mary loved making others happy. She was a wonderful mother and a great wife.
Family members include her loving daughter, Frances Mary Stanuchenski Cheney of Tewksbury and her son, Wayne Paul Stanuchenski of North Andover; brothers, John Kalkanajian of Danvers; sisters, Viola Bradley of Revere and Pat McKenna of Wilmington; grandchildren, James C. Cheney of North Reading and Danille Rose Stanuchenski of North Andover; great–grandchildren, Christopher James Cheney of New York, Kathleen Rose Cheney and James C. Cheney, Jr., both of North Reading. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews and family members.
Her funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Friday, November 14 at 9 a.m., followed by a 10:30 a.m. funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street (Rt. 62), North Reading. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, November 13 from 4 to 8 p.m. Burial will be held in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to: Sanborn Day (Adult Day Care), 607 North Ave., No.18–3, Wakefield, MA 01880. www.croswellfuneralhome.com.
