Mary P. Linehan

Mary Patricia (Heggarty) Linehan, 74, passed away peacefully at her home in Glen, New Hampshire, on December 20, 2025. Born on November 15, 1951, in Methuen, Massachusetts, Mary was the daughter of the late Andrew J. and Virginia Gile Heggarty. Raised on Mt. Vernon Street in Lawrence, Massachusetts, she shared countless memories with her brothers Jack, Francis, and Andrew, along with their childhood friends, and remained deeply proud of her Merrimack Valley roots. Mary graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Lawrence and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Merrimack College, where she formed friendships that lasted a lifetime. One of the most meaningful began in the summer of 1971, when she met Mark—her best friend and soulmate of 53 years. Their children never tired of hearing the story of how their parents met at the “Alamo” in Salsibury, the beginning of a lifelong love story. The Hampton coast became a cherished part of their family life, a place they returned to often to make lasting memories. Mary and Mark were married on October 14, 1972 and began building their life together. In 1973 they built their first home, where they raised their children, Erin and Dan. For many years, their Salem, New Hampshire home was a gathering place for the Linehan, Kostiew, and Heggarty families—a place to celebrate milestones or simply arrive in times of need, always met with warmth and love. After college, Mary worked at Raytheon in Andover, Massachusetts, as part of the team assembling missile guidance systems. In 1975, she and Mark opened their first ServiceMaster franchise, working tirelessly together while raising their family. From 1975 to 2016, they owned, sold, and supported ServiceMaster franchises, forming lifelong friendships around the world. Even during these busy years, Mary remained committed to service, working at the Salem Senior Center and serving on the boards of Silverthorne and Salem Haven, where she was known for bringing joy to residents. After years of traveling to their seasonal home, Mary and Mark chose to put down permanent roots in the Mount Washington Valley. In 2004, Mary again worked alongside Mark to design and build their dream home on what became known as the family compound along the Saco River. There, Mary cultivated beautiful gardens and welcoming outdoor spaces, finding joy in daily rides around the property on her mule. As always, their home became a place of gathering—filled with family reunions, shared meals, and laughter. Though Mary cherished quiet moments—gardening, creating stained glass, or reading on the beach—she was deeply selfless and always willing to step outside her comfort zone for her family. She sailed the New England coast, learned to ski to join family winters, and traveled the world. Yet her favorite place was always home, sitting on her porch surrounded by those she loved. Above all, Mary treasured being a devoted mother and loving Nana. She never missed a horse show or gymnastics meet, traveled countless hours to cheer on her grandsons—her support from the stands was always unmistakable—, and delighted in watching her granddaughter sing and perform. She found the greatest joy in simple moments: school pick-ups, making sandwiches, quiet conversations by the fire, and Sunday afternoon football. Mary is survived by her loving husband of 53 years, Mark Linehan of Glen, NH; her children Erin Messer (James) of Lunenburg, VT, and Daniel Linehan (Brian Schumann) of Glen, NH; her brother Andrew Heggarty (Trish) of Conway, NH; her grandchildren Jacob, Joseph, and Elouise; her sisters-in-law Anne, Veronica, Sheila, and Mary; brothers-in-law Tom, Ron, and Bob; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbors, and friends. She is reunited in heaven with her parents, Andrew and Virginia, and her brothers John J. and Francis J. Heggarty. Mary’s life was defined by selflessness and care for others. She consistently put the needs of those around her before her own, leaving behind a legacy of love, generosity, and compassion that will be cherished always. Family and friends are warmly invited to gather in remembrance at a funeral mass on Friday, January 9th @ 11:00 am. at Our Lady of the Mountains Parish in North Conway, NH. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions to CASA NH online at https://donate.casanh.org/give/411911/#!/donation/checkout or if you prefer to make a gift by mail, please send checks made payable to CASA of NH to: CASA of NH, PO Box 1327, Manchester, NH 03105