Mary Lou Moolenbeek

Mary Lou Moolenbeek, 79, of Upton, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, at the Rose Monahan Hospice Home in Worcester.

Born in Catania, Italy, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Amalia (Lombardo) DiStefano.  She was raised and educated in Lawrence, MA and was a graduate of Emmanuel College in 1967. Mary Lou studied toward a Master’s degree in Russian while living in the Netherlands.

Prior to retirement, she taught Russian at St. Joseph’s High School in Somerville; was a substitute teacher in high schools in Newton, Waltham, and Burlington; and was employed as a Nurse’s Aide at the Newton-Wellesley Nursing Home.

Mary Lou enjoyed singing, reading, playing bridge and bingo. She was fluent in Russian, Italian, Dutch and Spanish, and enjoyed a good conversation. Mary Lou was a longtime resident of Golden Pond in Hopkinton and was well known for her frequent laughter.

She is survived by her daughter, Dr. Andrea Moolenbeek Sullivan and her husband TJ, of Upton; her grandchildren, Cole, Julia and Ty Sullivan; her sisters Josephine Rossello of North Andover and Cammie Chretien of Pelham, NH; her former husband, Rob Moolenbeek of Ashland, MA; and many nieces and nephews.

Her funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 A.M. on Tuesday, April 6, in St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish, 151 Mendon Street, Upton.  Burial will follow in Maplewood Cemetery, Upton.

Calling hours will be held from 4 to 6 P.M. on Monday, April 5, in the Pickering & Son Upton Funeral Home, Inc. 45 Main Street, Upton.

Facial coverings and social distancing are required while inside the funeral home, church, and at the cemetery.  Please refrain from any physical contact with the family.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be sent to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, 72 East Concord St., Room C3, Boston, MA 02118 or via www.apdaparkinson.org