Marlene O’Halloran June 16, 1933 – January 21, 2019 Share this obituary Send Flowers View/Sign Guest Book| Send Sympathy Card Marlene (Baker) O’Halloran, 85, of Reading and formerly of Acton, entered eternal life on January 21, 2019. Marlene was born in Miami, Fla. , on June 16, 1933, the daughter of Laura L. (Carlton) and Frank J. Baker.
She is predeceased by her brother, the late Frank J. Baker Jr. of Orlando, Fla. , and her sister, the late Vestelle C. Harwell of Miami. As a young girl, Marlene lived for a short time with her family in Cuba and Puerto Rico while her father worked in advertising.
She attended Coral Gables High School and was a majorette who marched and twirled baton with the band. She was employed at First Federal Savings Bank in Miami before she married. Marlene loved playing piano, knitting, crocheting, painting, sewing, and reading.
Marlene was a convert to Catholicism and lived her faith by attending daily Mass, helping in her parish with R.C.I.A. , bringing Holy Communion to nursing homes, Emerson Hospital, and the homebound. She shared her faith in prayer groups, studied about her faith and was devoted to the Daily Office of Readings, and the Rosary.
Marlene believed in miracles. She loved the sound, smell, and power of the ocean. She enjoyed a good Southern Comfort Manhattan, and she believed that chocolate and ice cream really did make everything better.
Marlene married her eternal love, the late Colonel Leo D. O’Halloran Jr., USAF retired, on August 31, 1957, at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida. As the wife of an Air Force officer she was intimately involved in the communities of the 9 military bases on which they lived over a span of 30 years, often chairing and serving on volunteer boards such as the Officers Wives Club and American Red Cross. Marlene loved celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and hosting dinner parties.
She loved meeting new people from around the world and discovering what was unique and special about them. Marlene and her husband moved to Acton in 1981 when Leo was assigned to Hanscom Air Force Base and later enjoyed Air Force retirement traveling back and forth from Acton to Miami. She was a proud member of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in Acton and most recently of St. Agnes Parish in Reading.
Marlene is survived by her son, Leo D. O’Halloran III, and his wife, Natalie, of California; her daughters Patricia Bernier and her husband, Raymond, of Virginia; Kathleen Baker and her husband, Kurt, of Washington; and Elizabeth Erin Gesmundo and her husband, Joseph, of Reading. She was the proud grandmother of Sarah Castle and her husband, Robin, of Virginia; Charles Jennings and his fiancée, Jenn Roy, of Massachusetts; Natalie Bernier of Virginia; Christopher Baker and his fiancée, Anne Woo, of California; and Jack, Laura, Meghan, and the late Celia Grace Gesmundo of Reading. She delighted in her great-grandchildren Samuel, Evangeline, Leo, Beatrix, the late Victoria Castle of Virginia; and Claire Jennings of Massachusetts.
She is survived by sister-in-law Mildred Cissell of Newtonville; niece Karen Paquette and her husband, Larry, of Mattapoisett; and nephews Wayne Cissell and his wife, Mary, of Sharon; Stephen Cissell of Connecticut; Frank Baker and his wife, Kelly, of Texas; and Michael Baker of Texas. She is also survived by many loving cousins, great-nieces, great-nephews, and dear friends. Marlene’s family is grateful to Dr. Barbara Peters and Dr. Alan Marks of Concord as well as the staff, residents and their families of Artis Senior Living of Reading, for the love and care they provided to Marlene in living with Alzheimer’s.
They are also thankful to the staff from Right at Home as well as Lahey Health at Home Palliative Care and Hospice for their compassionate care. Funeral from the Douglass, Edgerley & Bessom Funeral Home, 25 Sanborn St. (corner of Woburn Street), Reading, Mass. , on Tuesday, January 29, at 9 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Agnes Church, 186 Woburn St., Reading, at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Mt.
Hope Cemetery in Acton at 1:30 p.m. Funeral home visiting hours will be held Monday, January 28, from 4 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Marlene’s memory to her favorite charity run by her dear friend Sister Linda Koontz, who serves the poor in Juarez, Mexico: Spirit of the Lord Int’l Ministry, 8900 A-N Viscount #260, El Paso, Texas 79925-5897 SERVICES Funeral Mass Tuesday, January 29, 2019 10:00 AM St. Agnes Church 186 Woburn St. Reading, MA 01867 Get Directions on Google Maps Visiting hours Monday from 4-8PM Burial at Mt.
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