Mary Catherine MacNeil, 80, of Onset died unexpectedly on July 31, 2015 of heart failure associated with diabetes.

Born in 1934, she was raised in Arlington and attended Tufts University, graduating from UMass Boston with a degree in English. She also studied drama and speech therapy. Ms. MacNeil taught at the middle and high school level in Roxbury and retired as the English department head for the Carver school system.

Mary is survived by her brother Norman and his wife Louise Faria of California, as well as seven nieces and nephews, Denise, Felicia, Peter, Christopher, Mark, David and Stephen MacNeil, in whose lives she played a significant role. She was predeceased by her father, Hector MacNeil; her mother, Amy (Phillips) MacNeil; her sister, Anna-Louise MacNeil; her aunt, Mary MacNeil and her cousin, Bill Moore. Also surviving are her cousin Jim Moore and his wife June, Matt, Ben, Linda, Stuart and Jeffrey Moore and her pets; Hamish, Doogie, Freddie, Kiki and Liza. She is also survived by a host of friends, some of long standing and some chance met, but with whom she shared precious moments of love and communication. Recently her special friends Marjorie and Millie helped and protected her.

Mary is best remembered by her former students for some little act or insight that helped them develop as humane people and to feel good about themselves. She is also remembered fondly by her Onset neighbors as she sat on her porch near the beach and conversed with all who passed by.

A celebration of the lives of Mary as well as her late sister Anna-Louise will be held on Sunday, July 31 at the beach at the end of Admiral’s Way, Onset from noon to 1 p.m.