Mary Christena (Farrell) Andrews died Sunday, April 28, 2024, at her son and daughter-in-law’s home in Framingham after being lovingly cared for while living with a long-term illness. She was 87.
Mary Christena Farrell, lovingly known to family and friends as ‘Tena’ was born in Boston on July 29, 1936, a daughter of the late Canadian immigrants, Hugh W. and Margaret (MacNeil) Farrell. Raised in Dorchester, her family later moved to Newton’s Auburndale neighborhood where she then graduated from Saint Bernard’s High School where she was a stand-out athlete. She married Robert V. Andrews on June 30, 1956, in Corpus Christi Church in Auburndale. They moved to Ashland as a young couple to raise their family.
Tena worked at Sharon Bolt + Screw Manufacturing Company before becoming the longtime housekeeper at Saint Cecilia Parish in Ashland where with dedication and love took care of the priests and rectory for many years.
Tena and Bob divided their time later in life between Ashland, Jamaica Bay in Boynton Beach, Florida to escape the winter climate and during summer months in her much-loved Inverness, Cape Breton Island and Whitehead in Nova Scotia, Canada.
When Tena was younger, she kept active with daily walks and was active in her parish church of Saint Cecilia. Tena was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Ashland Memorial Post #2331 and was a member of the Ashland Women’s Club. Tena and cousins often gathered for countless card games and potluck dinners. Tena was one of the founders of the MacNeil family reunion helping to bring American and Canadian family together.
Tena was predeceased by her daughter, Deborah Lynn Sharp; her siblings, Robert Farrell and Clare Jeannette Farrell and Carol Comeau.
In addition to her husband of 67 years, Bob, she leaves her children, James A. Andrews (Lynn) of Framingham, Clare J. McDonald of the Virgin Islands, Robert H.D. Andrews (Julie) of Hopkinton and Mary Christena Andrews of the Virgin Islands; her son-in-law, Terry Sharp of Raeford, North Carolina; her brother, Doug Farrell of Woodstock, Georgia; 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; in-laws, Donald Andrews (Nancy) of Silver Springs, FL and Sheila ‘Mitzi’ Lamb of Los Angeles, CA, Courtney Comeau of Norwood, MA and Mona Farrell of Gilford, New Hampshire; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and good friends.
Family and friends will honor and remember Tena’s life by gathering for visiting hours at the McCarthy, McKinney & Lawler Funeral Home, 11 Lincoln St. Framingham on Friday, May 17th from 5-8 PM. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday morning, May 18th in Saint Cecilia Church, 54 Etsy Street, Ashland at 11 a.m. A collation will follow in the parish hall. Burial will be held privately at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in Saint Cecilia’s Parish, 54 Etsy Street, Ashland, MA 01721 or Saint Cecilia Parish – Ashland, MA
To share a memory with Tena’s family, kindly visit www.mccarthyfh.com
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Chesmore Funeral Home