Patricia A. Martin

Patricia Ann (Connolly) Martin of Westwood, MA. Departed on Friday May 31, 2024 after a brief illness. She was formerly of Brookline, MA and the daughter of the late Michael F. and Mary M. (Gallagher) Connolly of Galway and Leitrim, Ireland.   Beloved wife of James J. Martin for 60 years and devoted mother and mother-in-law to Kelly and Ed Hardebeck of Brookline, Kristyn and Sean Sugrue of Westwood, Jamie and Shannyn Martin Burch of Canton and Alyssa Ann Martin of Charlestown. She was "Gizzy" to her grandchildren Cameron Sugrue, Edward Hardebeck, Carly Sugrue and Henry Hardebeck, each of whom she loved with all her heart.  Beloved youngest sister to her late siblings Mary Ganey, James Connolly, Francis Connolly, and Ann Thompson; and sister-in-law and friend to Kathleen Lipsett of Hingham.   She was loved by many nieces and nephews.  

Pat was a lifelong educator, having graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Brookline and Framingham State College with a teaching degree.  Early in her career she taught second grade, but she spent over 20 years teaching the three- and four-year-old classes at Temple Preschool in Norwood, and at St. John's Preschool in Dedham. Countless families benefited from her loving and tireless efforts to create inventive and fun lesson plans for her students, most of which was done on her own time at her kitchen table.  In addition, she volunteered as a St. Denis CCD teacher for many years and was a 'master teacher'.  

She was an avid crossword puzzler, voracious reader, birdwatcher, gardener, board game player and perennial family party hostess.   She loved to spend any and all occasions together as a family and made sure special days were well celebrated.  She always made people feel loved and welcome when they came over, and the kitchen was truly the heart of her home.  Reading cookbooks and experimenting with new recipes was a favorite pastime.  Her love of the ocean was passed down to all her children and grandchildren, as family vacations were always spent all together at the beach on Cape Cod or in Cape Canaveral, Florida.  Many days were spent sailing out of Quincy Point with Jim on the "Morningstar II", named for her father's fishing boat in Ireland. Pat was fiercely proud of her heritage and was a great lover of all things Irish, especially Irish music and dancing. She was also a proud Democrat, with a special fondness for John F. Kennedy, for whom she campaigned, Michael Dukakis, who was a fellow Perry Street, Brookline resident, and Joe Biden.  Her love, kindness, good advice and infectious laugh will be dearly missed by many.  

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Visiting Hours in the Holden, Dunn, Lawler Funeral Home at 55 High Rock Street, Westwood on Friday, June 7^th from 4-7 pm.   A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday morning June 8^th at 11 am in St. Denis Church, 157 Washington Street, Westwood. Interment will be held privately at New Westwood Cemetery, High St, Westwood.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Patricia’s memory to Youth Enrichment Services (YES) www.yeskids.org/donate