MaryAnn (Leo) Dwyer, 96, a longtime resident of Framingham, died Sunday, April 5th, 2026 after a period of declining health. Born in Hartford, CT, she was the daughter of the late Leonard & Felicia (Lauria) Leo, and the beloved wife of the late James B. Lawless, Jr., and Sylvester Dwyer.
Raised and educated in Hartford, CT, MaryAnn came to Framingham with her parents at the age of 21 and began working at Framingham Union Hospital in the steno pool. She went on to work as an office manager in a surgical practice, and later at Studio Optics until her retirement, where she made many lifelong friends.
In 1955 she married Jim, and together they raised their three children. They enjoyed travelling with friends and were avid candlepin bowlers. MaryAnn enjoyed ceramics for many years. They were married for 38 years when Jim died in 1993. Five years after Jim’s passing she married Sylvester Dwyer and enjoyed 20 years of marriage until his death in 2017.
MaryAnn is survived by her children, Thomas J. Lawless & his wife Cheryl of Framingham, and Maria E. Malm of Templeton, her daughter in law, Elizabeth Lawless of NV. She loved being Nonnie to, Brittney Tommila & her husband Brandon of NV, Ashley Malm of Templeton, and Christopher Malm & his wife Joenice of Orange, and her five great grandchildren.
Besides her husbands Jim and Sylvester, MaryAnn was predeceased by her son, James L. Lawless.
Family and friends are invited to honor and remember MaryAnn’s life by gathering for her graveside services on Thursday, April 16th in Sacred Heart Cemetery, 108 Medway Road, Milford at 11 o’clock.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in MaryAnn’s name to: American Cancer Society, https://www.cancer.org/
To share a memory with MaryAnn’s family, kindly visit www.nortonfuneralhome.com
McCarthy, McKinney & Lawler Funeral Home