Mary Louise “Mary Lou” (Burke) Mattson, 85, passed away peacefully at home in Holliston, Massachusetts, on November 7, 2026. Born and raised in Syracuse, New York, she was the beloved daughter of the late Virginia (Supley) and John R. Burke.
Mary Lou is survived by her daughters, Pamela Mattson and her husband Daniel Davis of Hopkinton, MA, and Lucinda Coughlin and her husband Charlie of Holliston, MA, her granddaughters, Ella and Caroline Coughlin, as well as several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Ronald “Ronnie” Mattson, and her twin brother, Richard T. Burke.
Mary Lou earned her undergraduate degree in education from SUNY Fredonia and began her teaching career on Long Island, New York. She met Ronnie at the Jug End Resort in the Berkshires, and the two were married in 1968. They settled in East Longmeadow, MA, where they resided for 45 years before moving to Holliston in 2014.
While raising her young daughters, Mary Lou was a dedicated stay-at-home mother and volunteered on the boards of the East Longmeadow Women’s Club, The College Club of Springfield, and the Twin Hills Country Club Women’s Association. She went on to earn a Master’s in Education from Springfield College and returned to the classroom, teaching 4th grade at Immaculate Conception School in Indian Orchard and 3rd grade at Holy Name in Springfield until her retirement in 2004. A passionate educator who truly loved her students, Mary Lou was honored in 2002 with the Catholic Schools Award for her exceptional commitment to education.
Appreciated for her wonderful sense of humor and quick laugh, Mary Lou approached life with remarkable strength, resilience, and grace, anchored by her sharp intellect and deep Catholic faith. An avid golfer, she was a member of the Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow, MA, for nearly 40 years, where her husband, Ronnie, was the head golf professional. Beyond her many pursuits, she had a lifelong interest in painting and a love of discovery, enjoying everything from local outings to international travels.
Some of our family’s most cherished memories include vacations to the 1000 Islands, Canada, Florida, California, and Ireland; honing our golf skills over 9 holes with Mom; weekend trips to Martha’s Vineyard; and countless day trips together. Mary Lou was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend whose warmth and presence will be deeply missed.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 16th beginning at 9:00 am at the Chesmore Funeral Home, 854 Washington Street, www.ChesmoreFuneralHome.com followed by Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 8 Church Street, Holliston, at 11 am. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Holliston.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Mary Lou may be made to support Parkinson’s disease research at Mass General Brigham. Contributions can be made online at giving.massgeneral.org or mailed to the MGB Development Office, 399 Revolution Drive, Suite 1330, Somerville, MA 02145, Attn: Gift Administration; please be sure to indicate that the donation is a tribute gift in memory of Mary Lou Mattson.
