Mary C. Paiva

Mary C. (Meuse) Paiva, 92, a lifelong resident of Wakefield, MA, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, November 12, 2026.

Born in Wakefield on June 12, 1934, she was the daughter of the late Frederick A. and Theresa A. (Muise) Meuse.

A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Mary was a woman of deep faith, which anchored her through 44 years of sobriety and set an inspiring example for generations of family and friends. She was an avid Red Sox fan and was affectionately known as “Mary Purple” because she filled her life with love, laughter, and lavender.

Mary was the beloved wife of the late Herbert J. Paiva and the loving mother of the late Joy Paiva. She is survived by her four children: Judy Paiva and her wife Sandy; Jay Paiva and his wife Kim; Jim Paiva and his wife Tanya; and Jeff Paiva and his wife Ginnie. She was the dear sister of Roy Meuse, Louise (Meuse) Bagge, Paul Meuse, Joe Meuse, Jeanette Muise, and Lester Meuse.

She also leaves behind her twelve cherished grandchildren: Bobby MacLaughlin, Jenny Lee Paiva, Jessie Gray, Zach Paiva, Nicholas Paiva, Katharine Gatcomb, Theresa Paiva, Joshua Paiva, Isabel Paiva, Madaleine Paiva, Samuel Paiva, and Christopher Paiva, as well as her five great-grandchildren: John, Emma, Hayley, Florence, and Luka.

Her funeral Mass will be celebrated in The Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 1155 Main St., Wakefield, on Tuesday, November 17, at 11:00 a.m. Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave.,Wakefield, on Monday, November 16, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Interment, Forest Glade Cemetery, Wakefield.