Obituaries

Mary Murphy MacKenzie, Founder of Teele Square Dance Studio, Dies at 85

Mary's daughter still operates the studio, which Mary opened nearly 50 years ago.

The following is from Dello Russo Funeral Home.

Mary L. (Flynn) Murphy MacKenzie, of Fort Myers, Fla., formerly of Medford and Somerville, died peacefully on Tuesday in Fort Myers. She was 85.

Mary was raised in Somerville, the daughter of the late Thomas and Mabel (Weaver) Flynn. As a young lady, Mary danced professionally in the Boston area. Forty-nine years ago, she opened her own dance studio in Teele Square, Somerville. The Mary Flynn Murphy Dance Studio, still operated by Mary’s daughter, offered a variety of dance instruction to generations of children. With grace and enthusiasm Mary taught and encouraged her students until her retirement. She eventually settled in Florida and enjoyed the warmth of Fort Myers in the company of her husband and with frequent visits from family and friends. She was a devoted and loving wife and mother who shared her love of dance with her daughters and grandchildren.

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The beloved wife of John MacKenzie and the late Edward C. Murphy, Mary was a devoted mother to Kathy Kozul and her husband Leon of Medford, Sharon Parillo and her husband Dominic of Medford, Patrice DeCristoforo and her husband Mike of Peabody and Lisa Shankhour of Saugus and her late husband John. A loving grandmother to Anthony, Karrah, Erin, Danielle, Nicole, Courtney, Ryan, Katie, Jenna, J.J. and Patrick and loving great-grandmother to six great-grandchildren, she was a dear sister to Joseph Flynn, Rita Todd, the late Kay Farrell, Francis and Thomas Flynn.

Her funeral will be from the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford, Monday, Feb. 17, at 9:30 a.m. followed by a funeral mass celebrated in St. Joseph Church, 118 High St., Medford, at 10:30 a.m. Services will conclude with burial at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend and may visit at the funeral home on Sunday 4 - 8 p.m.

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In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent in Mary’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 1 Bridge St., Suite 102, Newton, MA 02458.


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