McDermott, Maryellen Sheehan, 77, passed away peacefully surrounded by love on Sunday, May 24, 2026. Born on October 15, 1948 in Weymouth, she is predeceased (2025) by her loving husband Bob of 54 years. After meeting at a dance hall in Braintree, Bob and Maryellen married on November 7, 1970. Together, they moved to Braintree and raised a wonderful family that was the center of her world.

Maryellen was the devoted mother to Christopher McDermott and his wife Rachael of Pembroke, Laura McDermott of Abington, and Kathleen McDermott Dadekian of Braintree. She taught her children the value of education, hard work, family values, and great kindness. Her children always worked hard starting with delivering newspapers. She always welcomed them home from their routes on Saturday mornings with homemade fried dough. She never missed an opportunity to teach a lesson or help with homework, with the requirement of scrap paper and a pencil. She worked hard and sacrificed to take her children on great vacations, musicals and shows, and to attend college. Maryellen passed on her love of cooking, baking, and entertaining to her children. Her delicious chocolate chip cookie recipe is now a staple in her children’s kitchens.

Education was always paramount. Maryellen graduated from Bridgewater State College with a degree in Education in 1970. After being home to raise a family, Maryellen re-entered teaching at the Woodward School for Girls. She then moved to Milton Public Schools where she spent most of her career teaching middle school math. She found joy in creating projects and activities that her students would love while engaging them in learning. While working full time and raising her family, Maryellen went back to school to earn her Master’s Degree from Curry College.

The joy of her life was being a Nana. Her beloved grandchildren Carina Gail and Vince Robert Dadekian were the lights of her life. The role of Nana was her greatest role. She took the kids everywhere. They went to countless museums, all the local libraries, and explored Boston together. They all loved sleepovers with special dinners and breakfasts at Ashley’s. She loved shopping and baking with Carina. They had great trips to NYC, the Cape, and Maine. Vince was an expert at navigating the T by the time he was 5 because of countless trips with Nana to Boston. They loved to do science experiments and bake brownies and cookies together.

The loving daughter of the late Joseph and Margaret Sheehan, Maryellen is survived by her sister, Margaret O’Keefe and her husband Bob of Saco, Maine, her brother Joseph (deceased 2023) and Christine Sheehan of Braintree, and brother-in-law Bill McDermott of Hull. She was the loving aunt to Sean O’Keefe (deceased 2021), Katy Swanson Turner, Joseph Sheehan, Elizabeth Sheehan Castro, Neil O’Keefe, Mark Sheehan, and Matthew Sheehan. She was also the great aunt to Haely Swanson, Ella Swanson, Liv Turner, Connor O’Keefe, Gabe O’Keefe, Kayani Sheehan Castro, Jolay Sheehan Castro, and Vincent Sheehan. She had a wonderful relationship with her brother Joe and her sister Margaret. They loved to reminisce about the old days, getting the entire family together, spending time after Sunday Mass, and celebrating holidays. Together with Margaret’s husband Bob and Joe’s wife Christine, Maryellen and Bob shared countless family get togethers, First Communions, graduations, and even a big family Caribbean cruise.

Maryellen was rooted in her faith. She attended Sacred Heart School in Weymouth and was a devoted member of St. Clare’s parish in Braintree for over 50 years. She volunteered her time to teach CCD, was a Eucharistic minister, made countless pans of her famous brownies for the guests of Father Bill’s place, and she gave her time to organize the St. Clare’s Giving Tree for years. Maryellen also volunteered at the DeVanna center and helped the community through the Braintree Women’s Club.

Maryellen was blessed with the greatest friends. She met Cheryl Edgar in high school and they formed a life long friendship. They commuted to Bridgewater State College together, went to dances, and raised their families in the same neighborhood. After making her home in Braintree, Mary Ryan joined the group. Together they formed a life long bond and enjoyed great adventures. They took lots of trips together and hosted mother daughter events with Laura, Kathleen, Caroline, and Erin. Each event and trip had endless laughter and funny stories that continue to be told.

Maryellen’s Blake St friends; Joan and Greg, Gale and Spud, Eileen and Steve, Alice and Eddie, and Janet and Kenny were a truly wonderful group. They supported one another through the years, hosting themed dinner parties and traveling the world together. Along with Bob, they shared many adventures, including trips to Ireland and Alaska, a cruise along the Rhine River, and so much more.

Maryellen will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her. A kind, generous and loving woman, she led by example and leaves a gaping hole that hopefully will be filled with the lifetime of memories she provided to those she loved so much.

Donations in her name can be made to Father Bill’s Place, 400 Belmont St., Brockton, MA 02301 or by clicking here.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to greet the family during the visiting hours on Monday, June 1, 2026, from 3-7 PM in the McDonald Keohane Funeral Home SOUTH WEYMOUTH at 809 Main Street (Route 18, opposite of South Shore Hospital).

A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the funeral home at 9 AM on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, prior to the Funeral Mass in St. Clare’s Church, Braintree at 10 AM.

Services will conclude with interment in St. Mary Cemetery, Randolph.