Marlborough – Marie A. Bastien passed away at home on January 14, 2024, surrounded by family.
Born on September 10, 1927, Marie was raised in Lodi, NJ to a large Italian family. She was the daughter of the late Flory and Corrine (Salagari) Perini. The values she learned growing up in a close knit, nurturing community were reflected in the way she lived.
Marie was a graduate of Lodi High School Class of 1944. Marie received a bachelor’s degree in education from Patterson State Teachers College and upon graduating taught second grade for five years at Garfield Elementary School in Garfield NJ. Her most famous student grew up to become a member of the band The Rascals. She was able to attend his concert in Boston several years ago.
She married her husband Arthur in 1953 and relocated to Williamstown, MA. As a young wife and mother, she lived in Williamstown and would walk to the family-owned jewelry store to help.
Marie was a devout Yankees fan living in Red Sox territory. In her youth in New Jersey, she would go to games with her little brother to see Joe DiMaggio and all her favorite players. During a particularly spirited argument with her Massachusetts rivals, she buried a Ted Williams jersey in the backyard. She eventually softened and became a Red Sox and Patriots fan although the Yankees remained in her heart for all time.
The family relocated to Marlborough, MA in 1961. She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church. Marie was a stay-at-home mom until 1978. She worked at Marlborough Hospital in the lab until her retirement. Marie also enjoyed volunteering for the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce. She raised her 5 daughters and taught them to be strong, independent and resilient but also family oriented.
She was well versed in literature and was a wonderful painter and artist. She enjoyed all types of music and the theater. Marie loved to travel extensively in Europe as well as spending many vacations at the Cape.
As any Italian will tell you, the love of food is ingrained as an integral part of everyday life. As a result, Marie would never let anyone go home with an empty stomach or without lots of leftovers. No child of hers ever arrived home from school without being greeted with the fresh smell of homemade cookies or cake. Even as she became too weak to cook, she felt she needed to get up and offer coffee and something to eat to anyone who came by.
Arthur and Marie were married for 60 years before his passing in 2014. She continued to live in Marlborough close to her family for the remainder of her life. Marie was well loved and cared for not only by her daughters and extended family but her magnificent caregivers who became part of the family.
She leaves four daughters, Michelle M. Stevens and her husband John of Winston Salem, NC, Adrienne A. MacDonald and her husband Craig of Marlborough, Jeanne M. Dieterly of Shrewsbury and her husband David and Christine M. Bastien of Marlborough; her daughter Suzanne E. Peterson of Northborough predeceased her on April 5, 2023; her son-in-law Scott D. Peterson of Northborough; a brother Flory Perini of North Haledon, NJ; eight grandchildren, Sean, Melissa, Rebecca, Chris, Ryan, Matthew, D.J. and Samantha; eight great grandchildren; she was predeceased by her two brothers, George and Robert Perini.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday January 20 at 11:00 AM in Immaculate Conception Church, Prospect Street, Marlborough. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Wilson Street, Marlborough. A time of visitation will be held prior to the Mass from 9:30-10:30 AM in the Collins Funeral Home, 378 Lincoln Street, Marlborough.
All are invited to sign Marie’s online guestbook at www.collinsfuneral.com.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Collins Funeral Home, 378 Lincoln Street, Marlborough.
