Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 8, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Keefe Funeral Home, 5 Chestnut St., Arlington, for Maureen C. Regan, an educator who was born the youngest of a large Irish family.
The funeral Mass will be said on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Agnes Church, 32 Medford St. A private burial will occur at a later date.
Ms. Regan’s family said in the death notice: “With deep sorrow, the Regan family shares the passing of our dear, wonderful, much beloved sister Maureen on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. Maureen was a shining light in our family. The youngest of a large Irish family, Maureen was a best friend and confidant to many of her siblings. As the youngest in such a large family she developed a quick wit and devasting sense of humor. She leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, and unforgettable memories.”
She was a dedicated teacher. After receiving an undergraduate degree in English from Suffolk University, Ms. Regan received a master’s in literature from University of London, King’s College; a master’s in education from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, and an American International College certificate in advanced graduate study in administrative leadership. “She enlightened minds and touched hearts as an admired English teacher for over 30 years. She did so with wisdom, kindness, and compassion. Maureen had a love for language that brought words to life and hearts together,” according to her family.
Ms. Regan took a hiatus from her initial teaching assignment at Newburyport High School when she was selected to be a Fulbright Exchange Teaching Scholar in Larne, Northern Ireland. The experience affected her profoundly. Her travels inspired her love of art, literature, and international cuisine. After returning to the U.S., she taught English for grades nine through twelve at Watertown High School. In 2012, she became Watertown’s English Language Arts (ELA) Coordinator for grades six to twelve. She retired in 2025 from the Watertown School System.
She was an extremely intelligent woman of high standards. This was evident from the respect and esteem she received from both students and colleagues. Although a disciplined, organized taskmaster, she was a caring and thoughtful educator and mentor. As two colleagues recently explained, she was a master of her craft. She was a true scholar and never stopped learning. She worked with her students and never gave up on them and always provided a sympathetic ear and emotional ballast.
Ms. Regan’s father referred to his seven daughters as the Pleiades (also known as the Seven Sisters). “Mo was the brightest blue star in this familial constellation, and her untimely passing creates a black hole. She will be profoundly missed,” the family wrote.
She is survived by 12 siblings and spouses: William and Margaret of Arlington; John and Margaret of Plymouth, MA; Catherine of Palm Coast, FL; Dennis and Kate of Palm Coast, FL and Newbury, MA; Martin of Palm Coast, FL; Joseph and Angela of Warren, RI; Terence and Joan of Amesbury, MA; Mary Sullivan and Edward of Scituate, MA; Martha of Palm Springs, CA; Irene and Richard Schaefer of Palm Coast, FL; Helen and John Oakley of Boxford, MA; Elizabeth and Joseph Dellanno of Arlington, MA. In addition, she leaves behind twenty-two nieces and nephews and twenty-seven great-nieces and great-nephews.
Ms. Regan was a lynchpin between the generations of the extended family. Many of her nieces and nephews cherished their time with Auntie Mo.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Ms. Regan’s honor to one of her favorite charities: Fidelity House, 25 Medford St., Arlington or to the Arlington Libraries Foundation, 700 Mass. Ave., Arlington.
This obituary, published on Sept. 7, used information from the death notice.
