Mary Theresa (Buote) Sweeney

Mary Theresa Sweeney, 90, of Stoughton, MA succumbed to the ravages of the Coronavirus in the early morning hours of Saturday, June 6, 2020 at the Carney Hospital in Dorchester. She fought valiantly to the end.

Theresa was born on September 14, 1929 in Watertown, MA, to (the late) Mary Hughes and James Buote. Her parents who immigrated from Prince Edward Island Canada, worked one to two jobs apiece and kept the house on School Street in Stoughton filled with the sounds of Irish step music and the smell of homemade bread, rolls and pies.

In the environment in which Theresa was raised, you worked hard, you pressed on, you didn't complain and you were thankful for what you had. She attended St. Mary Elementary School across the street from their School Street home, and St. John's High School in Canton when it was a secretarial school. She was an avid dancer, specialty the Jitterbug, and was known for getting creative in her capers to sneak out for an evening of dancing with the girls. When Theresa found her first secretarial job, she really began to find her voice.

Theresa enjoyed a long fulfilling career as a purchasing agent at Brookfield Engineering before her retirement. Not one to sit still for long, Theresa volunteered at the Good Samaritan where she achieved her 100 hour pin. She was a regular at the Stoughton Council on Aging where she made so many wonderful friends. She went on cruises and other adventures, she took college courses in Creative Writing, learned to cross country ski, play tennis and golf. You only had to mention the word "Golf" and you were treated to her Hole-In-One story. She had the trophy to prove it. She was an avid reader and, as technology advanced so did she. She taught herself how to use Facebook and then passed that knowledge to her friends. You knew that she was up and started her day by a quick check on Facebook.

Theresa loved to travel, loved spontaneous events and planning surprises … and you better not ruin the surprise or you were on her list for life. She enjoyed friendships from those forged in high school that lasted a lifetime, to her quirky fun-loving group from "The Chapel" in Brockton, there was her Donut Sunday Group at the Immaculate Conception Church and, most recently, her compatriots from Rose Forte Housing on Capen Street in Stoughton where the lightning strike of July 17, 2019 forever changed the trajectory of her final year with us.

She was predeceased by her parents as well as her siblings, Rita Lucy (Buote) Costello, James "Sonny" Buote, Louis Lawrence Buote, and Lena Ann (Buote) Leard.

Theresa leaves behind her two daughters, Kathy Sweeney (Eddie Lee) of Charleston, SC and Patricia Shevchik of Franklin NH. When Theresa found herself a single mother raising two daughters she pushed them and herself to follow their dreams and to do and be all they could be. "Dream Big", she would shout. She lived for her girls and they knew it. The three of them had a deep and special bond. In addition to her daughters, Theresa leaves behind her four grandchildren Michael Beach, Rebecca Beach, Katie Williams (Dee) and Tyler Shevchik and five great-grandchildren Sarah, Caleb, Molleigh Jane, Max and Zane Thomas. She will always be their Gramma, Gramma Cho Cho and Teesa. She will also be missed by dozens and dozens of nieces and nephews both by blood and by lifelong friendships

Theresa is survived by her brother Raymond and wife Lillian Buote of Middleboro MA, who were always there to help her with errands and include her in all their activities, as was their daughter Jackie Gottwold, husband Kevin and their children and son Jeffrey Buote and his family. Her brother Louis' children Cynthia Buote Dolan (Mark), Kevin Buote (Gayle), and Sharon Falcone visited and checked in on her often. Her sister Rita's children, Maryann, Sheila and Michael made a point of calling her and bringing her the blueberry pancakes she loved so much. What a comfort it always was to Patty and Kathy for their Mom to be surrounded by such caring relatives both Buote and Sweeney and so many thoughtful friends.

Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, A Mass of Christian Burial and Celebration of Life will take place when restrictions have eased to permit for full participation by family and friends near and far. In lieu of flowers donations in her name may be made to the Immaculate Conception Church, 122 Canton St., Stoughton, MA 02072 or the Stoughton Council On Aging, PO Box 582, Stoughton, MA 02072.