Catherine Shawn (Mulry) Melanson, 87, of Marblehead, passed away on Sept. 10, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. Catherine was born in Worcester, the daughter of the late Joseph John Mulry and Evelyn Grundy Mulry. She later made her home in Marblehead, where she raised her family and built a life centered around the people she loved most.
Catherine had a lifelong appreciation for creativity and art. She majored in art in college and began her career as an artist and art teacher. Later in life, she started a second career as a claims adjuster for an insurance company, bringing to it the same determination and care for others that defined the rest of her life.
She had a generous spirit and an extraordinary ability to make people feel seen. She never judged others and always looked for the good in people. She was quick with a kind word or a bit of encouragement, and she genuinely wanted to know how you were doing and how your family was. She had an excellent sense of humor and a warmth that drew people to her.
Catherine would stop to talk to any mother with a baby, always with a compliment to offer, and she rarely passed a dog without saying hello. If you came to her home, she wanted you to be comfortable-to rest, sit down and have a drink. Taking care of people came naturally to her. She had an incredible work ethic and would do anything to provide for and protect her family.
Catherine had an amazing sense of style and loved beautiful things, but she also had a soft spot for big trucks and fast cars. She loved Aretha Franklin and The Blues Brothers, and those who knew her will remember the combination of elegance, strength and fun that made her entirely her own.
More than anything, Catherine loved her family. Her greatest legacy is her grandchildren, each of whom loved her dearly and knew how deeply they were loved in return. She took enormous pride in them and played an important role in each of their lives-teaching, encouraging, loving, and simply being there.
She is survived by her children, Marni Melanson of Manchester-by-the-Sea and Miles Melanson and his wife, Margaret Melanson of Marblehead, and by her beloved grandchildren, Carly Burbage, Emma Burbage, Olivia Burbage, Jackson Burbage, Savannah Melanson and Briggs Melanson. She is also survived by her sister, Mary Jane Mooney of Worcester, as well as her many beloved nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sisters, Laurie O’Connor and Patti Mitchell, and her brother, John Mulry.
Catherine leaves behind a family shaped by her love, and a lifetime of people who were fortunate enough to receive a kind word, a laugh, a compliment or a little extra encouragement from her. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady, Star of the Sea Church in Marblehead, on Oct. 10, at 11 a.m. A reception will follow, with details to be announced.
