Published in the June 29, 2018 edition
MELROSE — Patricia M. (Higgins) Byrne, 75, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on June 20, 2018.
She was born in Burlington and grew up in Woburn and Medford. She graduated from Girls Catholic High School and Malden School of Nursing, where she started her career as a maternity nurse at St. Margaret’s Hospital and Malden Hospital. She continued her work as a school nurse in Malden Public Schools and went on to work for the Malden Council of Aging.
On December 22, 1967, she married the love of her life, Charles J Byrne. Together they had four children and lived and raised them in Melrose. Her life revolved around her family, her grandchildren, spending time in Freedom, N.H. where her favorite activity was eating the largest bowl of coffee ice cream. She enjoyed her nursing luncheons, dinners with friends, and traveling to the casino with her sister to play her favorite penny slot machine. She was also the biggest cheerleader at her all grandchildren’s sporting events.
Loving mother of Marianne Burke and her husband John, Michael Byrne and his wife Kristen, Charles Byrne and his wife Wendy and Kathleen Camelio and her husband Robert Jr. all of Melrose. Cherished grandmother of Christopher, Kaitlyn and Kevin Burke, Brody Byrne, Jarret, Conner, Liam and Kaiden Byrne and Daniel, Justin and Emily Camelio. Caring sister of Joseph Higgins, Rev. John F. Higgins M.S., Mary Andreottola, Robert Higgins, William Higgins and the late Gerald Higgins. Also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.
Visitation was held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St. Melrose, on Sunday June 24. Funeral procession from Gately Funeral Home was on Monday morning June 25, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Incarnation Church, 425 Upham St. Melrose. Interment at Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose. Memorial contributions may be made in Patricia’s name to LaSalette Mission Center, 4650 South Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63111-1398 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Pl, Memphis, TN 38105. To send a message of condolence please visit www.gatelyfh.com
