Mary Cilino (born Miller), passed away peacefully in Stoneham on March 10, surrounded by family, a few weeks after her 95th birthday.

Also lovingly known as Ma, Grandma, and Miss Mary, she brought an unmistakable presence to any room she was in: singing, loving, and celebrating those around her at full volume.

Born at home in Bergenfield, NJ, on February 3, 1931, Mary was the 13th of 14 children. She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph B. Cilino, and is survived by her three children: Walter Singleman and his wife, Jessica Dodge, of Seattle, WA; Janet Singleman of Newton, MA; and Donald Singleman of Melrose, MA. She is also survived by her four grandchildren: Elizabeth Singleman of Newton, MA; Hannah Singleman of New York, NY; Liam Singleman of Somerville, MA; and Laurel Dodge of Seattle, WA. She was the last surviving of her 13 siblings and will be remembered fondly by many nieces and nephews, each with a colorful story or two to tell.

Mary lived in Springfield, MA from 1968 to 2017, before spending her final nine years in Melrose, where she was happiest surrounded by family, neighborhood friends, and the company of Ellie the Dog.

A devoted Boston sports fan, Mary cheered wholeheartedly for the Sox, Celts, and Pats. She stuck with her teams through it all, especially the Patriots, from the days of 2-12 seasons at Schaefer Stadium to the heights of the Tom Terrific-led dynasty. Her early-February birthday coincided nicely with more than a few Super Bowl wins. Whether it was a Super Bowl, a World Series, or an NBA Finals victory, Mary celebrated the only way she saw fit: out on the deck, ringing her custom cowbell with her trademark volume and enthusiasm.

Though she made her life in Massachusetts, she was a Jersey girl at heart. Nowhere was that more evident than in her lifelong love of Frank Sinatra, which started at 14 when her older sister took her into Manhattan to see him perform at Paramount Theatre.

She knew every word from then on and sang them every chance she got, along with favorites from Nat King Cole, The Beatles, and The Supremes. When Mary was around, the music was never turned down. She sang while washing dishes, while cooking dinner, or while moving through the kitchen with a little cha-cha step. Nieces and nephews knew Aunt Mary’s as the place where you could dance in front of the TV to American Bandstand, with her right there grooving along.

She loved games of all kinds, with a particular knack for word games and a (mostly) unbeatable skill to match. Scrabble, Boggle, Yahtzee, and UNO brought everyone from siblings to grandchildren together around the table, where laughter, gabbing, and a few choice words were always in the mix. She brought that same energy to her favorite game shows, Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune, rooting for contestants and heckling them in equal measure.

Mary worked as a secretary on Wall Street and later volunteered at the library at Dorman Elementary School. She was also a regular at Pine Point Community Council meetings, where she and her neighborhood friends were known to raise a little hell when needed.

She will be remembered for her quick wit, honest opinions, and deep love for her people. She had a way with words – clever, unexpected, and often just inappropriate enough to make them unforgettable.

As she might put it: “Everyone likes a nice a**. No one likes a wise a**.”

Mary will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Family and friends are invited to gather to honor and celebrate Mary’s life: A service will be held at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery (1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA) on Thursday, May 7th at 10:00 AM. A Melrose Remembrance will follow on Saturday, May 9th at 12:30 PM (19 Fairview Avenue, Melrose, MA). Casual and sports attire encouraged; a buffet lunch will be served.