FALMOUTH – Mary T. (Morris) Honan, 97, of Falmouth Foreside, passed away peacefully, at home with her family, on Feb. 27. Mary was born on May 6, 1925 in Portland to Mary McDermott Morris of Inverin, Galway and John J. Morris of Moycullen, Galway.

This formidable lady of Falmouth was a force of energy, dedication, and devotion to her family, community, and church. One of the oldest citizens of Falmouth, she lived on Foreside Road for 84 of her 97 years. The town showed up in great numbers with a parade by her home to celebrate her 95th birthday during COVID. Five fire engines, with lights flashing, led the parade followed by about 50 vehicles cheering to Mary T as she sat at the end of her driveway waving to her fan club, before a police cruiser, with lights flashing wrapped up the car parade, to honor this special lady.

She and her husband, Jimmy, of 64 years, raised five children and cared for her ailing mother, Mary, while never missing a sports event or an activity of the busy schedules of her children. She was a member of the Falmouth Conservation Committee and the Falmouth Historical Society. A significant fundraiser for the Society was producing a cookbook. Mary contributed many of her family recipes, photos, and history lessons within the book, and spent many Saturdays at Shaw’s selling them to shoppers. Her trunk always had a box or two of the books in case she encountered a sales opportunity.

A devout Catholic, she was very active at Holy Martyrs Church. In the 1960s, she and Jimmy were co-chairs of the Summer Fair which they called “An Irish Holiday.” It was a grand event. She ordered plates with a picture of the church to sell. They were a successful keepsake and became more of a treasure when the “old” church was torn down to be replaced by the current church. In typical Mary fashion, she was always prepared for a sale, and a few remain in her basement for a lasting piece of history.

With her three sons at Cheverus High School, she became a prominent member of the Mother’s Club, eventually becoming the President. Mary was the first woman on the Cheverus High School Board of Trustees and was honored for her service to Cheverus by receiving The Magis Award in 2014. This is a prestigious award recognizing those “People for Others.” She and Jimmy jointly received the Crescamus In Illo Award, from Cheverus High School, another high award in the Jesuit tradition. She served as the first non-cleric member of the Board of Trustees at Saint Joseph’s Manor for many years. By this point, her children had left the nest and she needed to reinvent herself from the Mom on the sidelines and Volunteer Extraordinaire to another opportunity.

Mary launched her Real Estate career with the Beecher Agency in Falmouth, now Coldwell Banker. On Mary’s first day as an agent, she had a listing. She was President of the Women’s Council of Realtors (WCR) and a state president and governor in 1997 and 1998. She was written up in Who’s Who in Real Estate. In an interview with Mary Lyons for the book Maine’s Achieving Women, she shared that 1993 was a “super year.” She was the top producer in listing and sales for the entire state of Maine. It was also the year her team won the Honan Open Golf Tournament, pretty important for a member of a very sports-oriented family, “all golfers.” Throughout all of these endeavors, her family was the focal point of her life. She lived by example by setting high standards for herself and her children. If one of the kids thought they might not feel well enough for school, her pat response was, well, you’re going. Call me if you feel worse throughout the day. Snow Days were great fun, sledding, skating, hot cocoa, and cookies, but “the driveway has to be shoveled by the time your father gets home.” Non- negotiable.

She loved being surrounded by family and friends. She was constantly feeding people, and a daughter-in-law has said, “T has an expandable dining room table, and she never runs out of food to serve whoever might end up staying for dinner.” One of her signature recipes is her dinner rolls. Following her mother’s recipe, she made them for her family every week. The rolls were baked and shared with family and friends. They are called “T’s” rolls and continue to be a staple at family dinners. One grandchild, not feeling well, told her parents the only thing that would make her feel better would be T’s rolls. They were made and overnighted to Chicago! T was truly a person for others, putting the needs of others before her own.

Saint Patrick’s Day is also a family tradition. Following in her parents’ tradition, she hosted an all-day Open House on March 17. The tea kettle would whistle all day, and Irish Bread would be on the table with Irish tunes playing in the background. She hosted up to 30 people as recently as 2022.

In her own words, “I’ve been lucky. I have a lot of energy. I hope it lasts. God’s been good to me.” The family appreciates her angel and caregiver, Brenda Thomas. Brenda joined the family to care for Jimmy and has been by Mary’s side for the past six years, providing care, love, friendship, and fabulous meals. Her award-winning lasagna is a family favorite.

Mary was predeceased by her husband of 64 years, Jimmy, and her siblings John, J. Morris, Ann P. Martin, Joseph P. Morris, Edward P. Morris, Barbara E. Riley, and Josephine P. Marr.

She is survived by her children, Ellen (Dick Curry) of Portland, Jim Jr. (Maria) of Hinsdale, Ill., Dan, of Portland, Tom (Beezee) of Marblehead, Mass., and Mary (Matt Lombardi) of No. Andover, Mass.; ten grandchildren, Christina (Matt Swan) of Chicago, Ill., Nellie (fiance Matthew Methot) of Portland, Jimmy III of South Boston, Mass., Daniel Jr. (DJ) of Tampa, Fla., Casey of Denver, Colo., Patrick of Hinsdale, Ill., Matthew Lombardi of Cambridge, Mass., Maura of NYC, Timmy of NYC, and Meredith Lombardi of No. Andover, Mass.; a brother-in-law, John S. Marr, Sr., Margaret Honan; and dozens of nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours celebrating Mary’s life will be held on Friday, March 3, 2023 from 3 – 7 p.m. at the Conroy Tully Walker Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Holy Martyrs Church, 266 Foreside Road, Falmouth.

To watch the livestream of Mary’s funeral, please visit http://www.facebook.com/conroytullywalker

To view Mary’s memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit http://www.ConroyTullyWalker.com

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to support the John and Josephine Marr Alzheimer’s Research Fund at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Memorial gifts can be made online at http://www.bwhgiving.org/marrfund, or checks can be made payable to:

Brigham and Women’s Hospital

(“In memory of Mary T. Honan” in memo line)

Development Office

116 Huntington Ave

3rd floor

Boston, MA 02116 or:

Cheverus High School

c/o James E. Honan Scholarship Fund

267 Ocean Avenue

Portland, ME 04103