Mary G. McLean of Melrose, daughter of James F. Whitty and Laura Grant Whitty passed to her Heavenly repose on Sunday, December 26th, 2021. A lifelong resident of Melrose and a retiree of the Melrose Public School Department having worked in the Guidance Office of Melrose High School, Mary retired in 2001, she is survived by her brother Jim Whitty and wife Jean of Florida, her sister Lorry Drew of Reading, her daughter Ann Marie McLean Mahon and her husband Andrew Mahon of Weymouth, her daughter Ellen Cosbar (Gahlin) of Prince Edward Island, Canada, her son Said Chaharome (Melissa) of Newburyport, her grandsons Glen Cosbar of Melrose, Kyle Quigney and wife Melanie of Georgia, and William Reed and wife Melissa of the US Navy, and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her son Joseph McLean, her companion of 25 years Albano Quatros, her sister Annie Johnson of Melrose, and her sister Joan Powers of Harwichport. Mrs. McLean was a seasonal resident and descendant from Prince Edward Island, Canada, having summered there annually throughout her life where she has many devoted family, friends, and fond memories. Mary was a devoted fan of the Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, and she loved to watch PGA Golf tournaments and World Class Figure Skating. Her hobbies were crossword puzzles and the old art of caning, particularly the restoration of chairs which she restored to pristine condition. She was very involved with her immediate and extended family and loved to gather with them throughout her life. She was a devoted parishioner of St. Mary's in Melrose until her health prevented her from attending Mass, but her heart was always with the Catholic Church, home and abroad. She will be remembered for her love, her kindness, her frankness and honesty, her wit, her perseverance and courage, and her generosity. Visiting hours will be held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St., Melrose on Monday, January 3, 2022 from 9-11AM, followed by a Funeral Service at 11AM. Relatives & friends respectfully invited to attend. Interment in Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose. EULOGY MY MOTHER MARY McLEAN I am Andrew, Annie's husband and I am reading this Eulogy on her behalf. As difficult as it is to stand before you today I know that I must give a testimony to the woman that was my mother, Mary McLean. I am sure that my sister Ellen and Gahlin, my husband Andrew, her beloved grandsons Glen, Kyle and William, and my extended family of Aunts, Uncles and Cousins, and one who I consider to be a brother, Saied Chaharome, will vouch for the remarks stated today in this sorrowful moment of my life. The best teacher is the one that leads by example and when I am at the crossroads of a difficult decision in my life I try and think about how my mother would have handled it by the exemplary behavior she displayed throughout her life. I loved my mother dearly and I considered her to be my best friend and confidant even in times of disagreement. If she ever did disagree with me I know that her opinion came from a place of good honest integrity. It was my mother's straightforwardness and honesty, often accompanied with a sense of humor, that I most appreciated in her. She always had a song or poem or a saying to face the trying circumstances of her life. If the bills piled up, or the car broke down, or the roof leaked my mother faced these hardships with a Stoic resolve. My mother also showed courage in the face of her own diminishing health while she dealt with heart disease, painful knee replacements, breast and stomach cancer, and a stroke, and most recently the congestive heart failure that took her life. And thankyou to my nephew Glen who provided care for my mother at this vulnerable time of her life. She accepted her circumstances with the face of courage, faith, and dignity, and pressed on in spite of the difficulties that life would throw her way. My mother knew the value of a dollar and with what little she earned she managed to provide for us. She was never one to squander her earnings, nor did she show any self pity for the challenging situation of raising three kids on a tight budget, she truly "cut her clothe according to measure". I also want to say that in the early years we were blessed to have the support of my Aunt Ann when my mother was working. I also want to recognize the support of my late Grandfather Jim Whitty and Nanna, my Aunt Lorry and late Uncle John, my Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Jean, and my late Uncle Chet and Aunt Joan. What most weighed on my mother was the untimely death of my brother Joe at the age of 27 in the late 80's. Joe's death was extremely painful for my mother to bear. But she did not live in self pity. On a brighter note the loves of my mother were numerous. She Loved her children and grandchildren (Glen, Kyle, and William) and was always there for them with love and kindness. She loved the United States, she loved being a Democrat, she loved being a Teacher's Union member in the Melrose Public School System, and embraced lifelong friendships that had begun there and which she nurtured till her end. She loved playing and watching golf and watching the Red Sox with Al, and the tv games the Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. She loved caning and rushing chairs, two very specialized crafts. A very special trait that Mary espoused was her care for animals. Frequently, on school holidays at Melrose High School my mother would usually bring home Guinea Pigs, Mice, or Gerbels so she could babysit them while the school was empty. Even though we lived in a small house my mother would always make room for the assortment of cats and dogs we adopted throughout her life, especially the last three dogs, respectively two Jack Russels named Jack and Hunter and little Stella, a small fiesty Chihuahua mix who just past away a short time ago. Most of all my mother loved her Canadian heritage and that portion of her life that she spent on Prince Edward Island. It was here on PEI that I believe the greater portion of my mother's spirit will remain. She loved the advent of summer because summer meant that she would be returning to PEI again for two months of vacationing and reconnecting with family and friends from the island, the 'Islanders'. My mother loved to visit family and friends and be visited upon. She loved lazy mornings and afternoons doing crossword puzzles or caning her chairs, or driving to Charlottetown, Morell, Cardigan, the town of Fortune, and Souris, or anywhere on the island for that matter. She loved picking blueberries and strawberries and making jam and jelly and 'million dollar relish'. She loved going for ice cream at St. Peter's Bay; driving down the Greenwich or Cable Head Road, visiting my sister Ellen and Gahlin, my Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Jean, my Aunt Anne or Aunt Lori, or any friends or family that were on the Island at the same time as she was. Earlier in life it would be "down at the bay" with my Grandfather Jim Whitty and my Grandmother Laura. She also loved going to St. Peter's Church at Sunday Mass to just sit in the pew and see who was up on the island as she said her prayers. Mass at St. Peter's was a great social event. PEI was my mother's annual homecoming where every day was an adventure for her. I believe it was the beauty and innocence and fond memories of PEI that helped her through the difficulties of her life and set her back on the path of optimism and hope. PEI truly was God's country to her. At this point I would like to recognize Saied Chaharome who I consider to be my mother's son and my brother. This brief story is a testimony of my Mother's compassion and her willingness to lend a helping hand. Sometime in the 80's my mother, who worked in the Melrose High School guidance office was approached by Saied, then a 14 year old boy whom mother had briefly known. Saied spontaneously asked my mother if she had a room he could stay in because his brother Alex was moving to NH and Saied wanted to stay with his new Melrose High friends. During the Iran-Iraq war of the 80's in which over 500K died Saied and Saied and Alex were in danger of being forced to serve in the Iranian Army under the Ayatollah against Saddam Hussein. Fortunately, Saied's parents had smuggled them out of the country to avoid this terrible fate to the far away safe abode of Melrose, MA. When my mother pondered Saied's request to stay with her she paused for a moment and said "yes I have a room in the basement" and she let Saied stay with her for four years and finish high school, and for many years afterward. This was the beginning of a relationship that would endure until her passing. Today Saied is the father of two beautiful children, Arman and Ahnika, and has a wonderful partner in Melissa. My mother's remembrance would not be complete unless I mentioned this noble person who occupied a special place in her heart. That person was Al Quatros. Al Quatros was a part of America's "Greatest Generation". He was born in 1920 and had lived through the Great Depression and fought the Japanese in New Guinea in WWII. After the war Al lived in Salem and was a Union stuart where he defended worker's rights because he believed in the principle of fairness and advocating for others. I thank God that Al was a part of my mother's life for close to 30 years. I considered Al to be a father figure to me, so much so that he gave me away when I got married. Al and my mother had great love and respect for each other and were the best of friends. It was through Al that my mother developed a love and appreciation for the game of golf. Another way they enjoyed spending time together was on weekly drives around New England, sometimes with Glen, and when Kyle and William were in town from California. Most weekends they would drive around the greater Boston area, usually in the north shore, looking for a new restaurant to dine in, or a golf course to play on. Sometimes they would drive up the old Rte. 1 to New Hampshire or Maine, and on occasion Al would accompany my mother up to PEI with Glen, Kyle, and William, especially when Al discovered the many beautiful golf courses up there. Al was accepted as a member of the extended family because he had become such a fixture in my mother's life and when he passed he created a big void for so many of us. So I want to say "Thank you Al!" for being there for my mother and for us "kids", we love you. Through all of these Joys and Sorrows I will remember my mother as an indomitable spirit full of trusting faith in the Will of God. I will always remember her as an example of quiet strength and courage in the face of adversity. I know the future will be difficult for some time but in the spirit of Christian faith and hope I dare not say "Goodbye Ma" but rather "See you later on the day we will be reunited forever." I love you Ma, we love you, and we will miss you forever, and in the spirit of an Irish Blessing , "May God Bless you and hold you in the palm of His Hand! Amen.