The 73rd annual Quincy Christmas Parade has a winner in its annual public contest to pick the theme of the Christmas parade.
This year’s parade theme selected by the committee will be “Stars and Stripes & Christmas Lights; Quincy Celebrates 250 Years.” The winning entry was submitted by Cathy Conti. Conti, who grew up in Quincy and has a long history of attending the parade with her family, young and old stated this was her first try at entering the contest after considering it in the past. Her family annually gathers at the same location near City Hall to watch the parade.
The theme combines the holiday spirit of the year with the historic role that Quincy plays in history of our nation. The parade will be the last formal event in Quincy’s year-long celebration of America 250.
The parade is set for Sunday, Nov. 29.
As a theme winner, Conti will ride in the parade with a guest in a car or float and be identified by a banner. She will also receive a plaque on the day of the parade.
The parade theme selection is the first step in the parade process. The parade theme will now be used by the community float builders who will compete for cash prizes for their organizations. Adherence to the theme is an important part of the judging process.
There are two categories of floats: non-profit and commercial. Both are judged separately with commercial entries receiving trophy awards.
QATV will use the theme in a city-wide poster contest held for elementary age participants in Quincy schools.
Organizations interested in entering a float in the parade can get an application and additional information by calling Paul Doherty at 617-376-1251.
Eileen Marie (Dearing) Feeney, of Quincy, passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, October 13, 2026. She was 93.
Eileen M. Feeney
Born in Quincy, she was raised on Kendall Street and was the daughter of the late William and Eileen (Gibbons) Dearing. Eileen attended local schools and graduated first in her class from North Quincy High School in 1951. After high school, Eileen attended Cornell University on a full scholarship. Upon graduation in 1955, she worked as a math teacher in Connecticut before returning to Quincy to teach. After taking 14 years to raise her family, she returned to the Quincy School System serving as a teacher and then the Dean, Vice Principal and ultimately Principal of North Quincy High School, retiring in 2001. Eileen was a staunch North Quincy alum, working for and remaining deeply committed to the School community.
Eileen was a devout Catholic, attending the Star of the Sea and eventually Sacred Heart Churches. It was in Sacred Heart Church that she was baptized, received the sacraments and was married. Her commitment to attending morning mass in Sacred Heart began when she was in high school and continued for many years.
Eileen was generous, loving and selfless. She was a source of comfort and advice for her immediate and extended family and her ability to connect with the people she loved is her legacy that continues through her family. She will be missed by all the lives she touched.
Eileen was the widow of Joseph P. Feeney who passed in 2019 after 61 loving years of marriage. She was the devoted mother of Eileen F. Bushnell and her husband Tom of New York, Bernadette F. Crawford and her husband David of Florida, Joseph W. Feeney and his dear friend Jackie Joyce of Quincy and William F. Feeney and his wife Cindy of California. Eileen was the loving grandmother of Melissa Crawford of London, David Crawford of Maine, Nora Jordan and her husband Aaron of New York, Betsy Zalis and her husband Josh of New York, Jillian Crawford of Quincy, Kevin Crawford of Maine, Blue Feeney of California, Ruby Feeney of Colorado and was the loving great grandmother of Emery and Etta Jordan of New York and Noa Zalis of New York. Eileen is survived by her beloved brother and sister-in-law Francis and Alexis (Reiser) Dearing as well as many loving nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to greet the family during the visiting hours on Wednesday 10/21/2026 from 4-7 PM in the Keohane Funeral Home, 785 Hancock St., QUINCY. A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the funeral home at 9AM on Thursday 10/22/2026 and a procession will go to the Funeral Mass in Sacred Heart Church, Quincy at which will commence 10 AM. Cremation will follow.
Interment is private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Eileen’s name may be sent to the Quincy Council on Aging, 440 E. Squantum St., Quincy, MA 02171.
Mary C. Dalton, age 77, formerly of Quincy and Dorchester, died peacefully, Thursday, October 1, 2026 at the South Shore Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Center in Rockland, surrounded by her loving family.
Beloved daughter of the late James P. and Doris M. (Ballem) Dalton.
The youngest and last of seven siblings, she was predeceased by Georgia Larsen, June Meade, Doris M. Marshall, James D. Dalton, Richard F. Dalton, and Claire I. Morrissey.
Mary is survived by many loving nieces, nephews, and their families.
A Memorial Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Divine Mercy Parish in Our Lady’s Chapel at Sacred Heart Church, 386 Hancock Street, North Quincy, on Saturday, October 24, at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Inurnment will follow at Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Dorchester.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s memory may be made to the charity of your choice.
Arrangements under the direction of the Sweeney Brothers Home for Funerals, 1 Independence Avenue, Quincy. You are invited to visit www.thesweeneybrothers.com or call 617-472-6344.
The Quincy District Court and the Norfolk County Juvenile Court Quincy/Stoughton Sessions will temporarily relocate their sittings and other court operations to 400 Crown Colony Dr. in Quincy, effective Monday, Oct. 26, 2026.
The temporary relocation will allow the demolition of the existing Quincy District Courthouse and the construction of a new courthouse on the current site. Quincy District Court and the Quincy and Stoughton Sessions of the Norfolk County Juvenile Court, including their clerks’ offices and probation offices, will operate at the Crown Colony location during construction.
Adult and juvenile probation operations at the Annex located at 1150 Hancock St. in Quincy will cease at the close of business on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. The Norfolk County Juvenile Court location at 55 Allied Dr. in Dedham will remain open and continue normal operations.
During the relocation, the telephone number and hours for the Quincy District Court will remain unchanged. The Quincy District Court Clerk’s Office can be reached at (617) 471-1650. The Clerk’s Office for the Quincy and Stoughton Sessions of the Norfolk County Juvenile Court can be reached at (617) 376-7505. The courthouse hours of operation will remain 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The temporary mailing address for Quincy District Court and Norfolk County Juvenile Court Quincy/Stoughton Sessions will be:
Quincy District Court Norfolk County Juvenile Court – Quincy/Stoughton Sessions 400 Crown Colony Drive 400 Crown Colony Drive Quincy, MA 02169 Quincy, MA 02169
Patricia Ann (Earner) Kopp of Quincy, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, October 11th. She was 68.
Patricia A. Kopp
She was born in Boston to Mary (Henry) and Patrick Earner and raised in South Boston. When she was in high school, her family moved to Pembroke, and she graduated from Silver Lake Regional High School.
After graduating, she began her career working with the State Racing Commission. She later spent many years as a waitress, a role that suited her love of people and her enjoyment of interacting with others while bringing warmth and personality to her work. Patricia took great pride in her career and was especially proud to serve as a secretary for the House Ways and Means Committee. She later continued her work as a secretary for Local 264, where she brought the same dedication and strong work ethic that had defined her throughout her life.
Above all else, Patricia was a devoted mother to her three sons, who were the center of her world. Whether she was getting them to their sporting events or ensuring that they each received a college education, she was their biggest supporter. She also shared their love of music, frequently attending concerts with them, and always found an excuse to dance. Her love and support never wavered, and she made sure her boys always knew how much they meant to her. Patricia instilled in them her wonderful sense of humor, her cheerful spirit, and her deep devotion to her faith. These gifts, along with the countless memories they shared, will remain a lasting part of her legacy.
Devoted mother to James Kopp and his wife Francesca of Norwell, John Kopp and his wife Alyssa of Quincy, and Leo Kopp and his wife Caitlin of Pembroke. Loving sister to Marylou Neumyer of Weymouth and her late husband Robert, and Joyce Guilfoy and her husband Martin of Nokomis, FL. Adoring grandmother to Samantha, Leo, and Elliana. Also survived by many nieces, nephews, and extended family.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to greet the family during the visiting hours on Monday, October 19th, from 4 – 7 PM in the Keohane Funeral Home, 785 Hancock St., QUINCY . A Celebration of Life Service will be held in the funeral home on 9:45 AM on Tuesday, October 20th, prior to the Funeral Mass to Immaculate Conception Church, Weymouth at 10:30 AM. Burial in Mt. Hope Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Patricia’s name may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516. Please see www.Keohane.com for directions and online condolences.
The unions that represent Quincy police officers and firefighters have offered to install statues of Saints Florian and Michael – which had been planned for the public safety headquarters on Sea Street but blocked by a preliminary injunction – on the grounds of Mount Wollaston Cemetery near the wrought iron gate.
The statue of Saint Florian (above) and Saint Michael (below). Courtesy images.
In their proposal to Mayor Thomas Koch, the unions offered to pay the cost of installing and maintaining the statues at the cemetery.
“Quincy’s firefighters and police officers are grateful for the City’s commitment to supporting and honoring its first responders. When we work each day to protect this community, we aim to exemplify the values of courage, justice, and sacrifice signified by Florian and Michael. To us, they represent what we do and how we do it. We therefore unequivocally support the display of these statues, which we believe would honor and inspire our first responder members, across a diversity of backgrounds, as they carry out their work for every citizen of this City,” wrote attorney Paul T. Hynes on behalf of the unions.
“Consistent with these goals, we offer the following proposal: that our fire and police unions be granted permission to take possession of the statues and install them, at our own expense, on the grounds of the Mount Wollaston Cemetery.”
The statues, which cost the city $850,000, had been planned for the public safety headquarters across the street and are the subject of ongoing litigation after a group of residents sued to block their installation. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in August unanimously upheld a preliminary injunction issued by a Superior Court judge that bars the statues from being placed on the building while the lawsuit is pending.
In a statement, Koch said he was open to the unions’ proposal and would seek clarification from the court on whether the city could accept it.
“The goal behind these statues has always been to pay tribute to the brave men and women who keep our City safe,” Koch said. “So the City is certainly inclined to consider a request from those first responders themselves about where they would like to see the statues displayed.”
In their letter, the unions said Mount Wollaston Cemetery is an “especially fitting location to honor Quincy’s first responders.”
“It has historically served as the final resting place for Quincy firefighters and police who die without families or other burial plots. In fact, sections of the cemetery are set aside for this purpose. It is also the home of the annual Police Officer and Firefighter Memorial Ceremonies, which are solemn occasions of great importance for our first responders,” Hynes said in the letter.
“Moreover, the cemetery already features other art and statues. The cemetery grounds currently include, among other things, six war memorials, the Fireman’s Memorial, the Policeman’s Memorial, the bronze Elks Lodge Elk, and the new iron gate with symbols relating to military and public service. Allowing us to add Florian and Michael would simply recognize our profound respect for the values these figures represent, just as the City also recognizes the values and sacrifices of its veterans and other public servants.”
The unions proposed placing the statues on either side of the driveway off Sea Street that leads to a wrought iron gate that was installed last year.
“We believe a suitable placement for the statues would be on either side of the driveway leading toward the iron gate,” Hynes said. “If Michael were placed on the south side of the driveway and Florian on the north, the statues would serve to indicate the locations of the police officer and firefighters’ sections within the cemetery. They would also provide an appropriate framing for the annual Memorial Ceremonies, which traditionally feature a procession into the cemetery from Sea Street.”
In their proposal, the unions said they would pick up the tab for installing the statues and maintaining them over time. They would “ensure that the statues are displayed with a plaque or other signage indicating the broad significance of these figures for the firefighting and police communities.”
Mae E. (Smith) Roy, age 100, of Quincy, died peacefully, Monday, October 12, 2026 at home, surrounded by her loving family.
Mae E. Roy
Mae was born in Boston, to the late Roland and Myrtle (Stanley) Smith. She was raised and educated in Dorchester. She lived in Quincy for twenty-eight years, previously in Westford and Somerville.
Mae was employed by the Veterans Administration over the years. She retired from the Bedford Veterans Affairs Medical Center after seventeen years.
She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary Fleet Reserve Association, Unit 66. She was a Sergeant at Arms in the later years.
Mae was devoted to her faith. She was an animal lover and bird watcher. Mae was an avid Bingo player. She loved going to the casino and playing gin rummy with her daughters. In her earlier years, Mae was an active participant at the Kennedy Center in Quincy, where she enjoyed yoga, Scrabble, and other activities.
Mae dedicated her life to her family. She loved being surrounded by her loved ones, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Beloved wife of the late Paul A. Roy and the late Michael Robito.
Devoted mother of Linda M. Winn and her husband Jack of Raynham, Elena A. DeMelin and her husband Paul of Quincy.
Loving grandmother of Kristen Gunville and her husband James, Jack Winn and his wife Victoria, Mark DeMelin, and Rachel Curran and her husband Steven.
Cherished great grandmother of Emerson, Sophia, Owen, Bennett, John and soon to be Baby Curran.
Mae is also survived by many loving members of the Robito/Luongo family.
Visiting Hours will be held at the Sweeney Brothers Home for Funerals, 1 Independence Avenue, Quincy, on Sunday, October 18, from 2 – 5 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Divine Mercy Parish in Saint Mary’s Church, 95 Crescent Street, West Quincy, on Monday, October 19, at 10:30 a.m. Interment to follow at Blue Hill Cemetery, Braintree.
For those who wish, donations in Mae’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, MA/NH Chapter, 320 Nevada Street, Suite 201, Newton, MA 02460 or to the charity of your choice.
You are invited to visit www.thesweeneybrothers.com or call 617-472-6344.
Michael James Berry, 76, of Quincy passed away Friday, October 9, 2026 with his loving family by his side.
Michael J. Berry
Born in Boston to the late Edward J. and Margaret S. Berry. Cherished husband of Mary L. Berry. Loving father of Kerin McCall and her husband David of Braintree and Michael J. Berry Jr. and his close friend Liz Tammaro of Quincy. Pa to Joseph Latteo and Morgan Berry. Survived by his brother Jack Berry of Arizona, his sister-in-law Donna Berry of Quincy, his sister Linda Lee Weeks and her husband Lincoln of East Bridgewater, MA, and his brother Don Berry and his wife Lee of Sumner, ME. Predeceased by his brothers William and Jay Berry. Loving uncle to many nephews and nieces.
Michael led a life of service to his family, union, and community. He was a proud 53 year member of Local 103 IBEW serving as an officer for 40 years. Michael was a leader of Troop 6 Houghs Neck Scouts. Most of his life he dedicated to the Scouts and was a proud Eagle Scout and recipient of the Waldorf-Statler award. He was Waldorf to his friend and fellow scouter Statler Marty Gordon.
He was involved in many community events, was a tireless volunteer, and through his fundraising efforts was elected as “Mayor of Houghs Neck.” Longtime Quincy Ward 1 Democratic Chairman and City committee. Served on the Board of the Quincy Community Action Program for more than 20 years.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours for Michael on Friday, October 16th, 4-7 PM in the Hamel-Lydon Chapel, 650 Hancock St., Quincy. Funeral services will be private.
At Michael’s request please do not send flowers, instead please bring a canned good to the visiting hours for QCAP or donate to Quincy Community Action Program, 1509 Hancock St., 3rd Floor, Quincy, or www.qcap.org/ways-to-give/.
Funeral Arrangements are under the compassionate care of Hamel-Lydon Chapel. For information and online condolences please visit HamelLydon.com.
William J. Cotter passed away in Raleigh, North Carolina on October 6, 2026 surrounded by loved ones, including his life partner Dale Cousins, son Billy, and daughters Amy and Marny.
Bill enlisted in the Army in 1966, shortly after graduating from North Quincy High School and spent 6 years on active duty, including a year in Vietnam. He mustered out as a Captain and picked up life in North Carolina where he earned a college degree and then a law degree at Duke University in 1979. Until recently, he carried on a successful legal practice covering family, criminal, and traffic law.
He is survived by an extended family of loved ones including his sister Jane Cotter, a NQHS 1968 graduate. He will be buried in the Veteran’s section of Raleigh’s Historic Oakwood cemetery. A celebration of life will occur at a later date. Further details are available at cityofoakscremation.com.
Elsie “Ellie” Mae O’Donnell, of Quincy, formerly of Dorchester, passed away peacefully at the age of 93, surrounded by family on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
Elsie M. O’Donnell
Ellie worked at Carney Hospital for 24 years. She had a passion for bingo and was always ready to try her luck at Foxwoods and Twin River. Ellie loved to travel, collect jewelry and have a good pink margarita or two.
Ellie was the loving Mother of Michael O’Donnell (and his wife Pat) of Plymouth, MA, Mary O’Donnell (and her husband Kevin) of Plymouth, MA, Ann Banks (and her husband Jim) of Marshfield, MA, Patricia McNamara (and her husband Mike) of Abington, MA and Kathleen Clougher (and her husband John) of Danville, CA.
Ellie was the loving Grandmother to Lori King, Casey Yoon, Michael O’Donnell, Patrick O’Donnell, Caitlin Sanderson, Jennifer Goulart, Meghan Banks, Nicholas Banks, Conor Donovan, Kathleen Donovan, Kaleigh Clougher, Kamryn Clougher and Kristen Clougher. She also cherished her 9 great grandchildren Allison King, Samantha King, Jameson O’Donnell, Madison O’Donnell, Evelyn O’Donnell, Rory Yoon, Jason Sanderson, Peyton Sanderson and Zachary Goulart.
Ellie is survived by her siblings Carol Smith of Southport, NC, Manny Clancy of Quincy, MA and Judith Cunningham of Alfred, ME. She was the beloved sister of the late Ruth Young of Adrian, MI, Stanley Clark of Weymouth, MA and Louis Clark, Raymond Clark, John Clark, Marjorie Swan, Lillian Tibbetts all of Southport, NC. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the Visiting Hours at Hamel-Lydon Chapel, 650 Hancock Street, on Thursday, October 15, 2026, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm.
Burial at Massachusetts Bourne National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make online gifts in memory of Ellie, to the American Cancer Foundation at www.cancer.org.
Arrangements under the compassionate care of Hamel-Lydon Chapel, Quincy. For information and online condolences please visit HamelLydon.com.
