PEABODY- Mrs. Arline M. (McKenna) Byrnes, 86 of Peabody, beloved wife of the late Robert M. Byrnes Sr, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 4, 2021 at Rosewood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Peabody surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Medford, she was the daughter of the late Edgar and Josephine (Farren) McKenna. She was raised and educated in the Medford School System and was a graduate of Medford High School, Class of 1954.
Mrs. Byrnes had been employed by New England Telephone Company in their Traffic Department. Following her marriage, Arline stayed at home to raise her growing family. A job she considered her most important work. She relished the time spent being involved in their many activities, celebrating the many milestones and watching them grow. As the children grew, she continued to work part time as the head of the laundry department at the Holiday Inn in Peabody for over 16 years. It was when the grandchildren came along that Arline was truly happiest. She adored her grandchildren, less responsibility and more fun. She loved making the holidays special, decorating and hosting get togethers. Shopping was a passion especially if it meant buying something special for her grandchildren; OH, how she loved to spoil them. She enjoyed knitting and sharing her creations with the family, travelling with her beloved Robert and bowling.
Surviving Arline are her daughters, Karen Rost and her husband, Bradford of Byfield, Christine Dempsey of Peabody, her sons, Robert Byrnes Jr. of Spokane WA, Stephen Byrnes, Sr. of Middleton, NH, Kevin Byrnes of Lynn, and Timothy Byrnes of Bradford, her grandchildren, Terena Garlock and her husband, Ted of Spokane, WA, Brendon Sisolak and his wife, Jenny of Hampstead, NH, Liam Byrnes of Lee, NH, Shauna Dempsey of Peabody, Riley Dempsey of Peabody and Lisa Byrnes of Bradford, her great-grandchildren, Garrett and Raeya Byrnes, Gavin Sisolak and Cael and Zoey Butterfield, , her granddaughter-in-law, Chelsea Byrnes of Phoenix, AZ and several nieces and nephews. She was also the mother of the late Shawn Byrnes and grandmother of the late Allysia Byrnes and Stephen Byrnes, Jr., and sister of the late Margaret Kelley and Joseph McKenna and mother-in-law of the late Kimberly Byrnes.
ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends are invited to her funeral service which will be held at O’Donnell – Cremations – Funerals – Celebrations, 167 Maple St., (Rte. 62.) DANVERS on Wednesday, Nov. 10th at 10 A.M. Burial in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody. Visiting hours Tuesday, Nov. 9th from 4 to 7 P.M. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Arline’s memory to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., Suite 102B, Danvers, MA 01923 or to the Roger B. Trask Adult Health Center, 79 Central St., Peabody. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com.
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