Mary Lou (Chaulk) Polk, of Melrose, died at the Epoch Senior Center in Melrose on Sept. 22, 2011 at the age of 76. Mary was born & raised in Woburn and a graduate of Woburn High School. She went on to earn her nursing degree in the first graduating class from the Melrose Wakefield School of Nursing. Mary worked as a Maternity Nurse at the Melrose Wakefield Hospital for 44 years. She was always very generous with her time & means, an avid Boston Red Sox fan and incredible cook. Mary loved to spend time with her family & her grandchildren, traveling to Disney World in Florida and trips to Maine. Mary resided in Melrose for the past 59 years. She was the beloved wife of the late Frederick H. Polk for 35 years. Loving mother of Robert W. Polk & his girlfriend Teresa Menard of Wakefield. Cherished grandmother of Christopher Polk, Erin Polk and Timothy Powers, all of NH. Caring & devoted sister of Marjorie Penney of Melrose and Brenda Schwalm of KY. Sister in law of Gladys Ventola of Malden. Former mother in law of Cathie Greeley of NH. Also survived by several nieces & nephews. A funeral service will be held at the Gately Funeral Home 79 W. Foster St., Melrose on Tuesday, Sept. 27th at 10AM. Relatives & friends invited. Visiting hours on Monday from 4-8PM. Burial in Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mary's name to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West 6th Flr. Brookline, MA 02445.