Mary E (Kenney) McLean

Mary Elsie McLean (Kenney) of Belmont, MA, December 28, 2025. Daughter of the late Daniel J. and Elsie Mary (Guthrie) Kenney. Beloved mother of Richard E. McLean and his wife Ellen of Milford, NH; Beth A. Melanson and her husband Paul of Belmont; and the late Kathleen “Katie” Mary McLean. Cherished Mimi & Grammy to Max Noonan; Meagan, Connor and Brendan McLean; William, Henry and James Melanson; and Sophia, Mary Grace and Sam Rocca. Sister to Nancy Phillips of Kingston, MA, Stephen Kenney of Yarmouth, MA, Robert Kenney of CA, and the late Daniel Kenney and William Kenney. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Mary spent much of her life in Belmont and the surrounding area. She attended St. Joseph’s Parochial School, Matignon High School, followed by Boston College School of Nursing, graduating in the class of 1970, and ultimately earned her Master’s Degree in Nursing at Northeastern University.

Mary was a dedicated mother and clinician, having worked for well over 30 years at Cambridge Hospital on Cahill 4, her second home. As a staff nurse, Nurse Manager and Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, she cared for countless people during their times of stress or struggle. She was always kind, calm, gentle yet tough when need be. Mary always saw the best in people and had an amazing sense of judgment and ethics that guided her care of others in all aspects of her work and life.

She loved walking around Belmont, going to Mass on Sundays, and hearing the” band” play. She traveled with her friend groups, had monthly dinners with her “symposium” of friends, spent summers on Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester, loved to read, and loved her Pilates.

Mary fought a long battle with Alzheimer’s before finally passing away at home with “all the kids” around her, which is all she ever wanted.

Our house will forever be empty without Mary’s smile and laugh. Mary is finally at peace; where she can dance and walk again, and she is now with Katie. We are sure they are celebrating their long-awaited reunion as only a mother and daughter could with laughter and light, knowing how blessed and lucky we all still are.

A special thank you to Lourda McNamara, who cared for her all these past years, allowing her to remain at home surrounded by the love of friends and family.

Visiting hours will be held in the Brown & Hickey Funeral Home 36 Trapelo Road Belmont on Friday Jan. 2nd from 4:00 - 7:00 PM. A funeral mass will be celebrated in St Joseph Church 130 Common Street Belmont on Saturday at 1:00 PM. Relatives and friends invited. The burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her memory to Casa Myrna c/o 451 Blue Hill Ave Boston, MA. 02121  https://casamyrna.org/   

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary E (Kenney) McLean, please visit our floral store.