Marlborough – Mary M. (Collins) Carney, 82, of Marlborough, died July 25, 2019 at Marlborough Hospital.
Mary graduated from Marlborough High School, became a nurse, and later earned a bachelor’s degree in Theater from UMass/Boston. She worked as an administrative assistant at MassBay Community College.
Mary enjoyed dance and theater (she participated in performances in community theater groups in Hudson, Southboro, and Sudbury). Her wonderful voice and appreciation of music will be missed by all who knew her! She sang at weddings and funerals, in her car, and at the piano when she was home. She was also known for her secret-recipe toll house cookies, hosting pool parties for her kids, and for being like a mother to many of her nieces and nephews, and her children’s friends.
Mary’s kindness was effusive. Family was everything to Mary, and if you weren’t born into the family, you were easily adopted into her heart. Her motto was always “the more the merrier.” Mary lived her life with the conviction that no one person was better than any other.
Mary was a consummate learner, with amazing energy. She even owned a (red) motorcycle and traveled all over the world.
She is survived by her five children, Valerie Rushanan of Bedford, Jennifer Thorson of Highland Beach, Fla., Peter Collins of Marlborough, Joel Collins of Marlborough, and Marjorie Collins of Stuart, Fla., as well as her sister, Patricia Clark of Marlborough; five grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Rose Collins of Marlborough and Alice Collyer of Ashby.
A private burial is planned.
Donations in her name can be made to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation at https://www.alzinfo.org/donate/donation_form/.
