Melinda
Melinda M. Rooney
d. July 25, 2021
Melinda M. Rooney, 79, of Westwood Massachusetts, died peacefully Sunday, July 25th after a long illness. She is the wife of retired Norwood High School industrial Arts teacher, James Rooney, her childhood sweetheart. Born in Boston in 1942, she was raised in Newton, where she grew up with her siblings (the late) William, Robert, Martha, John Magee, She is survived by her younger brother Jeffery Magee.
She graduated from Newton North High School and wore many hats in order to provide for her family. Her favorite job was being a Boston Historical Tour Guide for Old Town Trolley. As a former Tour Guide, she loved driving a "trolley", having her own "bell to ring" and telling the great stories and history that has made Boston what it is today.
Before working as a historical (and hysterically funny) tour guide in Boston, she worked as a fiber artist and as an embroidery business owner. She did it all... from home dec fabrication to designing custom machine embroidery for almost any occasion.
She is the Mother of Rosalind Beck, and James Rooney. She is also survived by her grandchildren Jaeda Gorman, James Rooney, Jaxon Rooney, and June Rooney as well as many loving nieces and nephews.
What is truly amazing about Melinda, is that she extended her fierce maternal blanket of protection of motherhood to friends, neighborhood children and mothered all creatures great and small
…except woodchucks. Melinda believed woodchucks deserved no quarter for eating her garden tomatoes.
She lived life to the fullest, her daughter coined the term "force of nature" to describe her Mother that loved life, loved fiercely, and would always be up for a party. She will be remembered fondly for her lavish "Little Christmas" epiphany holiday parties, and for the twinkle in her eye, her "straight from the hip" comments, her wine glass always close at hand, and her ripping yarns of family lore and history.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Visiting Hours in the Holden, Dunn and Lawler Funeral Home, 55 High Rock St., Westwood on Sunday August 1st from 2-5pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday morning August 2nd at 10:30am in Our Lady Help of Christians Church, 573 Washington St., Newton. Interment at Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline.
She graduated from Newton North High School and wore many hats in order to provide for her family. Her favorite job was being a Boston Historical Tour Guide for Old Town Trolley. As a former Tour Guide, she loved driving a "trolley", having her own "bell to ring" and telling the great stories and history that has made Boston what it is today.
Before working as a historical (and hysterically funny) tour guide in Boston, she worked as a fiber artist and as an embroidery business owner. She did it all... from home dec fabrication to designing custom machine embroidery for almost any occasion.
She is the Mother of Rosalind Beck, and James Rooney. She is also survived by her grandchildren Jaeda Gorman, James Rooney, Jaxon Rooney, and June Rooney as well as many loving nieces and nephews.
What is truly amazing about Melinda, is that she extended her fierce maternal blanket of protection of motherhood to friends, neighborhood children and mothered all creatures great and small
…except woodchucks. Melinda believed woodchucks deserved no quarter for eating her garden tomatoes.
She lived life to the fullest, her daughter coined the term "force of nature" to describe her Mother that loved life, loved fiercely, and would always be up for a party. She will be remembered fondly for her lavish "Little Christmas" epiphany holiday parties, and for the twinkle in her eye, her "straight from the hip" comments, her wine glass always close at hand, and her ripping yarns of family lore and history.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Visiting Hours in the Holden, Dunn and Lawler Funeral Home, 55 High Rock St., Westwood on Sunday August 1st from 2-5pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday morning August 2nd at 10:30am in Our Lady Help of Christians Church, 573 Washington St., Newton. Interment at Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Melinda M. Rooney, please visit our flower store.
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