Obituary
Marguerite Theresa (Green) Burns, originally of Medford, passed away on September 30, 2025, following a valiant battle with cancer. She passed away surrounded by family.
Marguerite was born in Medford, Massachusetts on December 29, 1952 to the late Anne and Joe Green as the fourth of five children. She grew up in Medford hillside but attended St. John the Evangelist grammar school in North Cambridge and North Cambridge Catholic High School. After graduating high school, she completed two years of study at Salem State College before finishing her bachelor’s degree at Boston College Evening School.
On June 25, 1977, Marguerite married John H. Burns at St. Francis Church in Hyannis. They were blessed with 48 years together and raised four children. Over the years, they made their home in various locales, including Chelsea MA, Amsterdam NY, Ireland, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. Marguerite enjoyed the adventure of visiting new places, and she loved to travel the world. She also made religious pilgrimages to Fatima, Portugal, and other holy sites.
Feisty and strong willed, Marguerite was a self-proclaimed tough old bird. Anyone that knew her would agree that she had an opinion on everything and always spoke her mind. She was calling the shots until the end. Marguerite was an avid reader, particularly of mystery novels, and she wrote her own stories and poems. She was quick with a laugh and full of fun, and she relished playing with her grandchildren or catching up with friends. Marguerite will also always be remembered for her famous banana bread and fudge.
Above all else, Marguerite was deeply devoted to her Catholic faith and her family. She believed we are all pilgrims on the way to Heaven and her devotion to God was a central part of her identity. Her faith sustained her through all of life’s trials and tribulations, including her final illness. She was determined to spread the good news even at the end of her life.
Marguerite is now reunited in Heaven with her parents, her brother Thomas Green, her grandparents, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins as well as her dear friend Louise (Pasaledes) Swanson. She leaves behind her husband John, her four children: Katharine, Brighid, Thomas, and Eleanor (Zachary), and her four grandchildren: Shea, Jackson, Anastasia, and Charles. She is also survived by her siblings: Patricia, Mary, and James Green, as well as her in-laws: Rose Burns, Andrea and Rick Harman, her nephew Johnathon Harman, and Patty and Patrick Cataldo. She also leaves behind cousins and many friends, including lifelong friend Linda (Nelson) McDonald.
Family and friends are invited to honor and remember Marguerite’s life by gathering at the George L. Doherty Funeral Home, 855 Broadway (Powder House Sq.) Somerville. Calling hours are on Wednesday October 8 from 4 to 7 pm. A funeral procession will commence from the George L. Doherty Funeral Home at 9 am Thursday October 9, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Medford at 10 am. Relatives and friends invited to attend. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.