Mary Eileen Cotter, 94, passed away on Sept. 23, 2022, at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack, New Hampshire, surrounded by the love of her family and everyone who ever knew her. Eileen, as she was commonly known, lived a busy, fulfilling life for most of her years, dedicated to her family, her career as an educator, and her involvement in her town. However, her world had narrowed more recently as she transitioned to assisted living, first at Billerica Crossings and then Bedford Falls, where she could be closer to her family.
The beloved wife of the late Frederick R. Cotter, Jr., with whom she shared more than 50 years of marriage, Eileen was the devoted mother of David Cotter and Pamme Boutselis of Nashua and Litchfield, New Hampshire, respectively. She reveled in her role as the grandmother of six, to Sean, Marissa, Kerry, Michael, Jessica, and Andrew. Eileen held such joy for her great-grandchildren, something she never imagined she might experience. She was Gigi to six incredible youngsters, Logan, Skyla, Ethan, Sophia, Charlotte and Colson. Later this year, she was excited to meet two new great-grandbabies—and her family will keep Gigi’s spirit alive, sharing tales of the woman who would have loved them so much.
Her life can’t be measured in the statistics surrounding dates of birth and death and the events that happened within. To do so would shortchange all that was so special about Eileen. From a young age, her giggle got her in trouble, from ill-timed laughter in the church chorus to finding humor throughout her life in the most challenging of scenarios. She was always down for fun, which can be attested to by all who knew her. She touched the lives of so many, from the extra time she spent with students who may have been seen as difficult (“They just need someone to pay attention to them,” she’d say) to the hands and heads that stayed extra toasty on cold winter days because of the mittens and hats she made and donated.
Eileen and Fred experienced a decade together before their children arrived, always on the go, weekends away, and lots and lots of nights out dancing. She did clerical work for insurance companies in Boston pre-children, devoting a fair amount of time to yet another favorite pastime, scouring Filene’s Basement for beautiful dresses and matching shoes during her lunch hour. Once her son and daughter were in school, Eileen began working as a cafeteria aide at the John F. Kennedy School in Billerica, Massachusetts, before beginning a 30-year tenure, including time as a paraprofessional and more than 20 years as a much-loved substitute teacher. She absolutely loved the children and the many close friends she made there over the years.
Eileen was active in Billerica throughout her life. Many will remember her as a no-nonsense precinct officer at Precinct 9, and she also served as a Town Meeting member. Eileen and Fred were Billerica Irish American Club members for many years. After retiring, she joined the Billerica Council on Aging (COA)and the Billerica Emblem Club. She especially enjoyed being part of the COA’s volunteer knitting group, making baby hats for hospital donations and holiday gift packages for the schools. Those who knew her will recall her rapid-fire speed and focus on making as many hats as possible.
Eileen was an avid reader, often completing a book each day. She kept a running alphabetized list of books read so she wouldn’t pick up the same book again at the library. Eileen always had a puzzle in the works and delighted in keeping a meticulous home and yard. She may well be the only person ever to declare a love of weeding. And then there was her love of the Patriots and Bruins; she was thrilled to attend games in person and especially enjoyed watching the Super Bowl with her son’s family. Her Patriots sweatshirt was a prized possession.
She loved decorating for the holidays and was known for her color-coordinated holiday outfits and her vast collection of themed pins and earrings. She would be known to sass you if you were not dressed in holiday colors. Eileen adored Christmas most of all, and her grandchildren still marvel at the wonderland of gifts spreading across most of her family room each year. Fred looked forward to every holiday to seeing how she dressed the picture window and decorations throughout the house.
Eileen also loved to travel, from road trips and vacations throughout New England with Fred and their family to countless weekends away with her adored friends from the Kennedy School. She especially loved her cruises to Hawaii and the Caribbean and her day trips with the COA’s Recycled Teenagers group. Some of her fondest memories include traveling through Ireland, summer vacations with her daughter and her family at Newfound Lake, many weekends away, and Disney and Arizona trips. In addition, she enjoyed staying in Maine with her son and his family, along with a decade of camping with Fred at the Mile Away Campground in Henniker, New Hampshire, and sharing that time with her grandchildren, too.
Eileen was always up for fun. Although she wasn’t much of a drinker, doing a shot with Grandma became a rite of passage for many a Boutselis grandchild and their friends at Newfound Lake. She was quick to laugh, always up to try something new, and immensely enjoyed visiting restaurants throughout New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
She was incredibly proud of her son and daughter and loved volunteering at sports events in Nashua with her son and his family and Litchfield Women’s Club events with her daughter. It brought her great pleasure to see her children and their families involved in their communities, allowing her to be a part of their world. She was equally as proud to see each of her grandchildren graduate from college and her daughter return to school to finish her bachelor’s and master’s and then go on to teach. One grandson, Michael, is also a teacher, and she delighted in visiting his first classroom. She had such admiration for her son’s self-taught craftsmanship and pride in the business he built as a custom carpenter for over two decades.
The daughter of James and Mary Genevieve (Coady) Ennis, Eileen was predeceased by her siblings, Earl Ennis, Jeanne (Ennis) Hughes, and Gordon Ennis. She is survived by her son David Cotter and his wife Linda (Maglio) of Nashua, their daughters Kerry (Cotter) Pearce and her husband Jonathan of Nashua, and Jessica Cotter and her partner Stephen Semenza of Boston; her daughter Pamme (Cotter) Boutselis of Litchfield and her children and their families; Sean, his wife Laura (Fonden) and son Colson of Manchester; Marissa (Boutselis) Brunelle and her husband Justin and their children Logan and Skyla of Litchfield; Michael and Hannah (Dubois) Boutselis and their children, Ethan, Sophia and Charlotte of Manchester; and Andrew Boutselis and his partner Molli Pace of Brooklyn, New York; her dear sister-in-law Mildred (Harrington) Ennis of Billerica, and many nieces and nephews and dear, longtime friends.
A Memorial Visitation will be held at Sweeney Memorial Funeral Home, 66 Concord Road, Billerica, on Friday, Sept. 30, from 4-7 pm. A funeral Mass at St. Mathew the Evangelist Parish at St. Theresa’s Church, 466 Boston Road, Billerica, will be celebrated on Saturday, October 1 at 10 am. Interment will follow in Fox Hill Cemetery, Billerica
Eileen’s family is so grateful for the loving care provided in her final days by the staff at the Community Hospice House and asks that donations, for those interested, be made in her honor to the Community Hospice House, Attn: Development, 7 Executive Park Drive, Merrimack, NH 03054. Donations may also be made online at www.hhhc.org.
Previous Events
Memorial Visitation
30
Sep
66 Concord Road
Billerica, MA 01821
Funeral Mass
1
Oct
466 Boston Rd.
Billerica, MA 01821
Graveside
1
Oct
130 Andover Rd.
Billerica, MA 01821
Cemetery Details
Location
130 Andover Rd.
Billerica, MA 01821
