MaryJo “MJ” Zarella of Lowell, MA

MaryJo “MJ” Zarella, 68, of Lowell, MA, passed away on Monday, January 20, 2025, at Northwood Rehabilitation Center after a long battle with FTD (Frontal Temporal Degeneration). She is survived by her loving husband Normand Zarella with whom she celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary on November 5^th.

Born in Graciosa, Azores, Portugal, MaryJo was the daughter of the late Jose Cunha and Maria Silva. She was a proud graduate of Lowell High School, Class of 1974.

MaryJo dedicated much of her life to the community, working with the Coalition for a Better Acre in Lowell, and she also worked as an administrative assistant at Lil Peach headquarters. She also worked for Bull Electronics as a Cultural assistant and organized a golf league for them. She was a devoted communicant of both St. Anne’s Church in N. Billerica and St. Anne’s Church in Lowell. Additionally, she had received a certificate from The Daughters of the Revolutionary War.

A woman of many passions, MaryJo enjoyed painting, decorating and tending to her garden, where she found joy and solace. She also enjoyed playing golf with family & friends. She was a loving mother and grandmother, deeply devoted to her family.

Besides her husband, she is survived by her sons, Sean Zarella and his fiancé Kayla & her sons Tyler & Ryan of Milford, NH; Stephen Zarella and his wife Claire of Georgetown, TX; her three grandchildren, Landon Zarella, Gavin Zarella, and Dylan Zarella; father-in-law Albert Zarella of North Billerica, MA; and many cousins who will miss her dearly.

She was also the mother of the late Christopher Zarella, whose memory she cherished and the daughter-in-law of the late Shirley Zarella.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of MaryJo Zarella in support of the Frontotemporal Disorders Unit at Mass General and mailed to the Massachusetts General Hospital Development Office, 125 Nashua Street, Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114, Attention: Michael Johnson.

Donations can also be made online at giving.massgeneral.org/donate; please be sure to indicate that the gift is a tribute gift in memory of MaryJo Zarella.

MaryJo will be remembered for her kind heart, her love of family, and the beauty she brought to the world through her work, her faith, and her passions.

FUNERAL NOTICE

Visiting hours Thursday, February 13, 2025 from 7-9PM at MORSE-BAYLISS FUNERAL HOME, 122 PRINCETON BLVD., LOWELL, MA. Funeral Sunday, February 16, 2025 2PM at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church N. Billerica, MA Interment following. Memorials may be made in her name to St. Anne’s Church N. Billerica, MA. ARRANGEMENTS BY MORSE-BAYLISS FUNERAL HOME 978-458-6841. Guestbook at www.morsebaylissfuneralhome.com.