Obituary

ANN MARGARET (KNIGHT) SHEEHAN - of Woburn, June 16th. Beloved wife of the late John F. "Jack" Sheehan. Devoted mother of Theresa Sheehan-Smith of Arlington, John F. Sheehan and his wife Joan of Billerica, Kathleen Ahearn and her husband Cornelius of Reading, and David W. Sheehan and his wife Cherylann of Dedham. Dear sister of Theresa Rhode of Quincy and the late Mary Knight, Eileen Caruso, and William Knight. Loving grandmother of Amy Morrissey and her husband Matthew O'Rourke, Laura Morrissey, Michael Ahearn and his companion Betsy Sias, Jennifer DeFrancesco and her husband Daniel, Caroline Ahearn and her partner Derek Kierans, Erin Ahearn, Nicole Ahearn, Barry, Meredith, Matthew, and Brooke Sheehan and the late Patrice Ahearn, and great-grandmother of Olivia, Gus, Liam, Patrice, Evie, Gabriel and Patrick. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated in St. Barbara's Church, 138 Cambridge Road, Woburn, on Wednesday, June 20th at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. There are no calling hours, and interment is private. Donations may be made in Mrs. Sheehan's memory to the Jimmy Fund, c/o Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168 (jimmyfund.org). Arrangements by the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, Woburn.

OBITUARY:

Ann Margaret Sheehan, a longtime Woburn resident, passed away in Reading Saturday morning, June 16th, with her loving family at her side. The wife of the late John F. "Jack" Sheehan, who died seven years ago, she was eighty-seven years of age.

Born and raised in Somerville, she was one of seven children of the late Harry and Ellen (Barry) Knight. She graduated from Somerville High School with the Class of 1943. She and her husband Jack, who grew up together in Somerville, married in 1949 and in 1951 took up residence in Woburn, where they raised their four children.

Ann's greatest joys were her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Ann and Jack hosted family holiday celebrations and backyard cookouts for many years. Ann's mother, a seamstress, taught her to sew as a young girl and she, in turn, taught her children. Ann sewed many of her own and her children's clothing when they were younger. She was an avid knitter and, in addition to sweaters, hats, mittens and afghans, Ann knitted over 200 personalized Christmas stockings which became her signature item, given as presents to the many babies born to family and friends. She prided herself on working with her hands and never being idle.

She was proud of her Irish heritage and loved Irish culture, especially Irish dancing. She and her husband Jack were active in the Billerica Irish-American Club for many years. They also enjoyed traveling, especially their many trips to Ireland and England. Ann had a lifelong passion for flower gardening, and was a longtime member of the St. Barbara's Sodality and of the Don Bosco Mother's Club. As a young mother she was a Girl Scout leader and was actively involved with all her children's academic and athletic activities. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who was a loyal and trustworthy friend.

Preceding her in death, along with her dear husband Jack, were her beloved granddaughter, Patrice Ahearn, two sisters, Mary Knight and Eileen Caruso, a brother, William Knight, and two sons-in-law, Brian Smith and Frank Morrissey.

Surviving are four children: Theresa Sheehan-Smith of Arlington, John F. Sheehan and his wife Joan of Billerica, Kathleen Ahearn and her husband Cornelius of Reading, and David W. Sheehan and his wife Cherylann of Dedham, and her sister, Theresa Rhode of Quincy. She was also the cherished "Nana" of Amy Morrissey and her husband Matthew O'Rourke, Laura Morrissey, Michael Ahearn and his companion Betsy Sias, Jennifer DeFrancesco and her husband Daniel, Caroline Ahearn and her partner Derek Kierans, Erin Ahearn, Nicole Ahearn, Barry, Meredith, Matthew, and Brooke Sheehan and the late Patrice Ahearn, and great-grandmother ("GG") of Olivia, Gus, Liam, Patrice, Evie, Gabriel and Patrick.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated in St. Barbara's Church, 138 Cambridge Road, Woburn, on Wednesday, June 20th at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. There are no calling hours, and interment is private.

Donations may be made in Mrs. Sheehan's memory to the Jimmy Fund, c/o Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168 (jimmyfund.org).

Arrangements are being handled by the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, Woburn.