Mary Ellen Goecke May 16, 1932 - October 26, 2022

Methuen – Mary Ellen (Mahoney) Goecke, 90, of Haverhill, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 26 at Nevins Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after a long illness, with family by her side.

Mary Ellen was born in Haverhill on May 16, 1932.  She was the daughter of the late William H. and Mary L. (Boover) Mahoney.  She lived in Groveland for a time, but she spent most of her life in Haverhill.  She attended Haverhill Public Schools and was a graduate of Haverhill High School, Class of 1950.  She later attended McIntosh Business School and Northern Essex Community College.

While raising five young children, she worked in the deli and meat department at A&P Supermarket in Riverside, and she later worked at Cleary’s Cleaners.  Subsequently, she worked for many years as an interviewer and case manager at the Massachusetts Department of Employment and Training, from which she retired in 2002.

Mary Ellen was an avid gardener and she enjoyed traveling, particularly her trips to Ireland and Scotland.  She loved any and all local beaches, and she was a passionate sports fan, rarely missinga chance to watch a Boston Red Sox or a New England Patriots game.  For many years she was an active member of St. John the Baptist Church in Riverside.   And more than anything, she cherished spending time with her family, her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren.

She was the loving mother of five children:  Catherine A. Bevelaqua of Haverhill; Steven R. Goecke of Haverhill; Susan M. Goecke and her husband, Daniel Hoyt, of Haverhill; Laurie A. Panaro and her husband, Frank Panaro, of Plaistow, NH; and Sharon M. Goecke of Greenland, NH.  She was the cherished grandmother of Sarah Doucette, Laura Rasmussen, Allison Bevelaqua, Alexander Hoyt, Casey Panaro, Benjamin Hoyt and Courtney Panaro, as well as the beloved great-grandmother of six.  She was predeceased by her former husband and friend, Herbert H. Goecke, Jr. in 1987.

Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend a graveside service on Saturday, November 5 at 11:30 AM at St. James Cemetery, Primrose St., Haverhill.  Arrangements are under the direction of the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main St., Haverhill.  Please visit Comeau Funeral Home on Facebook or www.comeaufuneral.com.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mary Ellen’s memory to the Dana Farber Cancer Research Jimmy Fund, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284.