Maryann (Gilbert) Butler

After a courageous 10-year battle with Ovarian Cancer, Maryann (Gilbert) Butler passed away on May 25, 2024 at the Kaplan Hospice House in Danvers and has earned her teal wings. She will be forever loved, admired and missed dearly by her family and friends forever.

Mary was born and raised in Peabody MA to Mary and Norman Gilbert on December 5, 1954. She resided in Peabody, married and moved to Danvers, Rowley and finally settled in Groveland where she and her husband lived for 32 years and raised two wonderful children. She has made an incredible number of friends along the way, a testament to her warm and bubbly personality.  During her life she had worked at Ann & Hope Danvers where her and Richard met, Rich’s Department Store in Danvers, and Your Market (now Mackinnon’s) in Danvers.

In 2014, Mary was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. Instead of being in what she called a dark corner, she embraced the challenge, dusted herself off, did her chemotherapy and lived a pretty normal life doing everything she wanted. In 2024, she ticked two boxes off her bucket list by traveling up the Cog Railway to the top of Mount Washington and, took her very first flight and traveled to Aruba.  Her passion was her gardens that are still blooming today, traveling to the ocean to visit the lighthouses (Nubble was her favorite) or the mountains in Lincoln and North Conway NH with her husband and just being there for her family when she could. She was especially proud of her granddaughter McKenna and the beautiful teen she has become. They made her macaroni and cheese together and her pumpkin pie whenever Mary was asked. Mary also helped countless new cancer patients cope with their diagnosis and shared her thoughts and ideas to ease the shock of cancer. A special place in her heart was and will be always held for the doctors and nurses that took care of her at Dana-Farber and helped her through some of the difficult times and Care Dimensions / Kaplan Hospice House for taking care of her in her last 6-weeks.

Mary is survived by her husband of 49 years, Richard, her two children Richard, Jr. and his wife Ashley along with her granddaughter McKenna also of Groveland and Rachel Kilgour and her husband Eric of Bradford. Mary is also survived by her siblings Joanne Cook and husband Dennis of Florida, Nancy Granville of Texas, Robert Gilbert and wife Rebecca of Florida, William Gilbert of Nashua NH, Bonnie Regan and her late husband Norman of Peabody and daughter (flower girl at Mary’s wedding) Kristine Regan of Vermont, Betty Correia, her husband Albert of Sandown NH and  daughter (Mary’s Goddaughter) Kimberly Maynard of Texas, Richard Gilbert and wife Marie of Brentwood NH, Daniel Gilbert of Peabody, Norma Gilbert and husband William of Peabody, siblings in-law Deborah MacKenzie and her late husband John of Saco, Maine and Laurie Butler and partner Greg of Seabrook, NH as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. She is also predeceased by her parents Mary and Norman Gilbert, sister Clair Atkinson and brother Charles Cook. 

Visitation will be held on Monday, June 3, in the Driscoll Funeral Home, 309 S. Main Street, Haverhill from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Services will be Tuesday morning in the funeral home officiated by Fr. John Delaney of Sacred Heart Church at 11:00 AM followed by interment in Linwood Cemetery, Mill Street, Haverhill. For guestbook visit www.driscollcares.com

In lieu of flowers, you can make donations to one of the following organizations in Mary’s name. She would be deeply appreciative of this gesture. Please make sure you mention Maryann Butler as the tribute or memorial name.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Methuen to support cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via www.dana-farber.org/gift.

Care Dimensions/Kaplan Hospice House. Make a donation by check payable to Care Dimensions and mail to 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923. Please indicate the name of the person you wish to honor. Donate online by using our secure online service to charge your donation to your credit card. Ask if your employer has a Matching Gift Program that can double or even triple your gift. Check with your human resources department for guidelines. Thank you on behalf of Maryann's entire faimly.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Maryann (Gilbert) Butler, please visit our floral store.