Obituary: Woburn Educator, 68, Was 'Born to Teach'

The following is an obituary courtesy of Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home. 

Maureen Kilroy Casavant passed away Monday evening, Jan. 6, at home with her beloved husband and daughter by her side. The devoted wife of Jeffrey M. Casavant, she was sixty-eight years of age.

Raised in Natick, she was one of six children born to the late Arthur W. and Margaret “Rita” (McFarland) Kilroy. She attended Marian High School in Framingham, graduating with the Class of 1963. She then earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education at Regis College. 

Maureen was born to teach. She was very passionate and dedicated to her students. She was devoted to public education for close to twenty-five years. Maureen was a teacher in Natick for several years at Lincoln School and Memorial School prior to teaching in Woburn. She spent most of her years in Woburn at the Kennedy Memorial Middle School, and more recently retired from the Joyce Middle School.

While living in Natick, she played on a softball team. It was there that she was introduced to the “Coach” of her team, and her future husband, Jeffrey Casavant. They married in 1979 and devoted themselves to each other. Upon the arrival of their daughter Jenna, she became the center of their universe. Maureen and Jenna were inseparable and shared a very special mother-daughter bond. They enjoyed spending time at Squam Lake in NH and Dennisport at the Cape, but mostly enjoyed the special times of being together.

Maureen also loved her gardens, be it flowers or vegetables. She had a true appreciation for nature, especially the birds and bunnies. Maureen was a very kind and loving woman whose friendships were very important. She had a “sisterhood” of dear friends that she shared life with since high school and college. Maureen has touched the hearts of young and old alike and in particular the hearts and lives of her dear husband, Jeff, and beloved daughter, Jenna. 

In addition to her parents, Maureen was predeceased by her brothers, Arthur W. (Bill) Kilroy and Thomas J. Kilroy.

She is lovingly survived by her husband of thirty-four years, Jeffrey M. Casavant, her daughter, Jenna M. Casavant and her fiancé Barry Doherty of Medford, her siblings, Robert J. Kilroy and his wife Kit of Chelmsford, Dennis E. Kilroy and his wife Kathie of Holliston, and Janice A. Skelley and her fiancé Roger Bayley of Framingham, her brother-in-law, Richard B. Casavant and his wife Audrey of Wilmington, her nephews, Matthew Kilroy of Amesbury and Ryan Skelley of TX, and her niece, Laura Cellucci of FL.

Remembrances may be made in Maureen's memory to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund c/o Dr. Ursula Matulonis, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215.