Brenda Mahoney

Brenda “Cookie” (Hayes) Mahoney, a longtime resident of Woburn, Ma. passed away peacefully, early Thursday morning, Sept 26, 2024, after stoically battling an illness. 

She was 83 years old, and just shy of her 84th birthday. 

She was the daughter of Kathryn (Normile) and Harry Hayes, sister of Sis Williams and her pre-deceased brother, Norman Knights. She grew up in Cambridge Ma, where she was raised in a close knit extended family, filled with very dear and loving cousins. She very proudly attended Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School. 

She is the mother of Lisa (Mahoney) Johnson, and Michael Mahoney. She was a vibrant and vivacious mother, who was a fierce protector of all those she loved - especially her children. 

Brenda loved animals from the time she was a very young child. She was like a pied piper to animals, as she often rescued and cared for stray cats. She said she was like a magnet for them, as they would appear to her, and then magically follow her home. She continued her love and nurturing of animals to the end, as she provided food to the wild birds and squirrels, and even fed the raccoons. She would never turn away a stray that happened into her yard; unless of course, it was a coyote stalking one of her smaller animal friends. 

She was affectionately called “Nana with the Birds” by her grandchildren, to differentiate her by her pet birds, from the many Nana’s in her family. She started with owning parakeets, graduated to cockatiels, and finally a gray parrot named Simba, who is rather forlorn now, missing his loving mom. 

“Nana with the Birds” always provided entertainment, joy and laughter, when the grandkids were invited to stay at her home. Crafting was definitely on the agenda, whether it was pumpkin carving, t-shirt making, card designing, or something else she could not wait to share with her grandchildren. Nana with the Bird’s artistic skills always had a way of taking any craft, event, or sleepover to the next level. Her grandkids were sure to return home from a sleepover, filled with love, and a bag full of goodies they had made themselves; excited to share their newfound skills they had just learned from Nana, with their Mom’s and Dad’s. 

And food . . . . she knew how to cook! It was definitely one of her love languages. Her friends and extended family members still rave about her exceptional gatherings at Thanksgiving and Easter, or any other reason she had to throw a party. The food was always more than plentiful, and exceptional to taste. But it was her ability to create fun, love, and lots of laughter for everyone that was truly incredible. She will be remembered as “Auntie Cookie” to many. Everyone’s favorite, fun-loving, loud, and cackling aunt, who loved to entertain in her home. 

She loved giving back to the community, whether it was through the church, school, local politics, or volunteering for the many diverse associations she was involved with at the time. She was very engaged in the community, and always stepped up to make a difference and help others. She was a woman filled with much compassion and empathy for others, and believed in making a difference in the world. 

When she planned vacations, it was never just a relaxing style vacation. They were vacations with agendas - places to visit, tours to go on, and things to do. And they weren’t complete without game nights, and some kind of winnings. It probably was not much of a vacation for her, but it was filled with so much fun, you never noticed how much work she had done; to make it such a successful and enjoyable vacation for everyone else. 

Cookie’s family shared amazing family vacations every year with the Monto’s in Scituate, Ma. The Monto’s were an extension of her family. Sheila was very much her sister from another mother. The two of them were a hoot together, and potentially a LOT of trouble at any given moment. Their quick wit and sarcasm fed off each other, and they were known as the “Lucy and Ethel” of the North Shore. 

Later in life, she shared many years with Wayne Mohler, and enjoyed summers boating in the Lake’s region of NH, especially on Lake Winnipesaukee. They shared some wonderful summer vacations with her children and grandchildren, creating fond memories that still live on today. 

Brenda is survived by, and the loving mother and mother-in-law of: Lisa Johnson & her husband Russ of Hudson FL, Michael Mahoney and his wife Martha of Rowley, Ma. She was the proud “Nana with the Birds” of Russell (RJ) Johnson, Brianna & her husband Mike Sousa, Alessandra & her husband Tuan Vu, Eric Johnson, and Zoe Mahoney. She was great-grandmother to Makenzie, Lily, Timothy, Austin, and soon to be born Nolan. 

Additionally, she is survived by her companion Wayne Mohler, her sister Sis Williams, and sister-in-law Renie Knights. She is survived by many beloved nieces, nephews, & her very much beloved cousins. 

Family, extended family, and friends are invited to a graveside service to celebrate her full life, planned for Tuesday, Oct 1, 2024 at 11:00 am, at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Pepperell, MA.