Mary Elaine Butler

Mary Elaine Butler, age 94, of Lynnfield, formerly of Holden and Rockport, died Tuesday, June 6 at the Beverly Hospital. 

Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut on August 10, 1928 she was the daughter of the late William Joseph and Catherine (Griffin) McGrath.  As many Catholic families did at the time, she was given a saint’s name as a first name, but she always went by her middle name, Elaine.

Elaine attended Albert Magnus College where she was the president of her class and, after graduation, Elaine went to work for the telephone company where she became a supervisor. When she was in her twenties, Elaine was asked frequently when she was going to find a man and get married.  She always replied that she wasn’t going to chase any man and that the man she did marry would have to come and ring her doorbell!  Sure enough, Eric G. Butler came to her door and rang her doorbell for a blind date—they went to a ballgame—and they were married on October 4, 1957. 

Elaine and Eric started their family in Connecticut before the family moved to Lincoln Street in Lexington, Massachusetts in 1966. Elaine was a talented artist and enjoyed oil painting, and several of her landscapes, streetscapes and still life studies hung in their homes for many years. In 1974, the family moved to Holden, Massachusetts.  While she no longer had space for a painting studio, Elaine used her creative talents to decorate her new home.  She hung wallpaper, sewed multiple sets of curtains and even re-upholstered an entire couch.  Elaine also taught herself to be a skilled tailor, and she frequently made her own suits as well as clothes for her daughter.  Even though Elaine hadn’t sewed for many years prior to her passing, she still enjoyed fashion and took pride in putting together her outfits.
Elaine is survived by her husband of 65 years, Eric G. Butler of Lynnfield, MA; her son, Mark S. Butler and wife, Eileen T. O’Neil, of Boston, MA; her daughter, Lauren L. Butler of Salem, MA; her nieces and nephews: Carroll S. (McGrath) Hood and husband, Richard Hood, of Amherst, MA; W. Tod McGrath and wife, Maureen (Salazar) McGrath, of Hingham, MA; Katherine E. (McGrath) Smith and husband, William L. Smith, of Warwick, RI; Kevin P. McGrath and wife, Sarah (Connell) McGrath, of Denville, NJ; Patrick D. McGrath and wife, Christina (Ross) McGrath, of Griswold, CT; and Kristin A. (McGrath) Pine and husband, John J. Pine of Warwick, RI. Elaine was predeceased by her brother William J. McGrath, Jr., and his wife, Jacqueline (Carroll) McGrath of Kingston RI; her brother-in-law, Ralph G. Butler of Saugus MA; and her sister-in-law, Virginia C. Butler of Saugus MA.

Her Funeral Services were private. Arrangements were in the care of the McDonald Funeral Home, Wakefield. 

For condolences in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Home for Little Wanderers, 10 Guest Street, Boston MA 02135.