Obituary
Mary Irene (Walsh) Driscoll, age 84, passed away peacefully on January 2, 2026, in Winter Park, Florida. She was born on January 23, 1941, in Methuen, Massachusetts.
In 1962, Mary married the love of her life, James Driscoll Sr. Together they built a life centered on love, family, and service. They adopted and raised their two children in Andover, Massachusetts, where Mary would spend most of her life creating a warm and welcoming home filled with love and family.
She was predeceased by her beloved parents, Irene and Augustine Walsh; her husband, James Driscoll Sr.; her son, James Driscoll Jr.; and her brother, Gus Walsh.
She is survived by her devoted daughter, Amy D’Andrea, and Amy’s husband, Dan D’Andrea. She was a proud and loving grandmother to Jes D’Andrea (Brittany), Mia Amyotte (Matthias), Samantha D’Andrea (Mike Foley), and Daniel D’Andrea Jr. (Amanda Hamberger), as well as to Melanie and Nicholas Driscoll, children of her late son James. She was also blessed with great-grandchildren Ariana, Janelle, and JJ. In addition, she is survived by her cherished sisters, Ann Carney (Rich), Irene Gagnon (Bob), and Agnes Gunes (Dogan), along with many beloved nieces and nephews and lifelong friends.
Mary spent most of her life in Andover, Massachusetts, where she raised her family before moving to Kissimmee, Florida in 2017. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts Lowell, she dedicated her life to teaching and nurturing young children. She taught for many years as a first-grade teacher in the City of Lawrence, Massachusetts, where she helped hundreds of children learn to read—opening doors to confidence, learning, and opportunity. She continued that calling as a preschool teacher at the YMCA in Andover, where she also shared her love of the water by teaching children how to swim and helping them build confidence and safety in the pool. Throughout her teaching career, she formed many lifelong friendships.
Family was always at the heart of her life. She especially loved cooking Sunday dinners for her grandchildren when they visited the family home in Andover, creating traditions and memories that will be cherished forever. Known for her strength, resilience, and unforgettable laugh, Mary had a joyful spirit that could light up a room and brought comfort and laughter to those around her. Mary loved to travel, particularly vacationing in Pine Point, Maine; Orlando, Florida; Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts; and taking many trips to the islands in the Caribbean. She fondly remembered her childhood summers spent at Forest Lake. She loved swimming in her backyard pool in Andover and later in Florida, which brought her great happiness.
The family is deeply grateful for the compassionate care she received from her dedicated physicians at Personalized Primary Care in Celebration, Florida—especially Dr. James Scelfo, Dr. Katelyn Meade, and their team—as well as the wonderful nurses and staff at Regents Park Winter Park Skilled Nursing Facility in Winter Park, Florida, and Vitas Hospice Care in Orlando, Florida.
Memorial services will be held at the Chapel at West Parish Cemetery in Andover, Massachusetts, in the Spring. Burial will be private.
Her legacy lives on in every child who learned to read with confidence, every child who learned to swim safely, and in the family who loved her deeply.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Darien YMCA, supporting swim lesson scholarships for children. This cause reflects her lifelong dedication to teaching young children and her passion for the water—values that also helped shape the career path of her daughter, Amy, now the Aquatic Director at the Darien YMCA.
Darien YMCA
2420 Post Road
Darien, CT 06820
For donation correspondence or inquiries:
Karen Ford, Development Director
kford@darien-ymca.org
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