Published in the February 20, 2018 edition.
WAKEFIELD — Maurie Ann Haver, 85, of Wakefield, passed away on February 18, 2018.
She was a graduate of Malden High School, Class of 1951. After graduation, she had a brief stint at the Palace of Sweets Ice Cream & Soda Shoppe in Malden and then it was off to serve in the Air Force as a WAF. After basic training at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz., she served as a Transfer Specialist at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, progressing to Airman Corporal. It was there she met a handsome Air Force Sergeant, John G. Haver. After a whirlwind romance, they soon married. Not long after Maurie’s honorable discharge, their son William was born. With her husband on active duty, they settled into an apartment in Medford. After having a second child, Laura Ann, their longtime friends would inform them of a wonderful community North of Boston, called Wakefield complete with its very own amusement park called Pleasure Island. Soon they settled into a Westside neighborhood, making great friends with whom they would immerse in enjoyable activities for many years.
While John worked at the Boston Naval Shipyard and served in the Air Force Reserve, Maurie became active in grade school functions, along with being an active den mother of Cub, Boy, Campfire and Girl Scout dens. Soon thereafter, she volunteered as a rectory assistant at St. Joseph’s Church, later becoming a Corps Mother along with husband John as Equipment Manager for the new St. Joseph’s Band. She also volunteered for the Sombreros and Senoritas Drill Teams, who all went on to win several C.Y.O. divisional championships.
Along the way, she and some neighborhood friends became employees of Poly Paks, Inc. in Wakefield, they even trekked though snow packed roads and corner drifts after the Blizzard of ‘78. Around the same time her husband landed a great job at the VA Hospital in Bedford. They then both joined the Northeast Regional Square Dancers, a square dance club, and she had the time of her life, sewing up and wearing the petticoats and “western” fashions. In her “spare” time she became very proficient at decorating themed cakes for several friends and group functions.
Her proudest moments were time spent being the doting grandmother to her daughter’s two children and later, a third grandchild from her son. She was the best Nana around and became an “adopted” Nana to Joshua Bilodeau and many others.
Maurie is predeceased by her husband of 53 years, John G. Haver and her grandson of 19 years, Michael J. Haver of Milford. She is survived by her son, William G. Haver of Wakefield, and daughter Laura H. Brophy of Wilmington, a granddaughter, Kristyn A. Brophy of Medford, and grandson, Matthew R. Brophy of Wilmington.
Her funeral will be held from the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Thursday, February 22, at 9 a.m., followed by a funeral Mass celebrated in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 173 Albion Street, Wakefield, 10 a.m. Interment to follow at Lakeside Cemetery, North Ave. and Beacon St., Wakefield. Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, February 21, from 4 to 8 p.m.
