Marion V. Clancy
9/1/11
Marion V. (Quinn) Clancy, 92, of Hull, formerly of Wollaston, died at home Aug. 20.

Mrs. Clancy graduated with high honors from Quincy High School and Regis College. She attended the New England Conservatory of Music where she met, married, and became the piano accompanist for the legendary Irish tenor James Clancy, who predeceased her.

With her husband of 69 years, she became the driving force behind the renowned Clancy Family Singers, who performed throughout New England and New York from the mid-1950s until recently.

Eventually gaining her master’s degree in both English and music from Bridgewater State and Harvard universities, she complemented her career as leader of the family singing troupe by teaching music in the Quincy middle schools for more than 20 years. She ultimately became director of music for the Quincy public schools.

A devout Catholic her entire life, she and her husband performed throughout the Archdiocese of Boston. She was a gifted and much sought-after organist and singer, and the couple performed the most challenging musical arrangements, especially during the Christmas and Easter seasons.

She is survived by her daughters, Maryellen Kelly, of Milton, Julie Kenerson, of Hull, and Eileen Pantano, of Quincy; her sons, Joseph Clancy, of Milton, John Clancy, of Braintree, Michael Clancy, of Weymouth, Matthew Clancy, of Melrose, Steven Clancy, of Hull, and Christopher Clancy, of Scituate; her sister, Madelyn Wallace, of Meredith, N.H.; 31 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and their families.

She was the mother of the late James B. Clancy Jr., Margaret “Peggy” Lavery and Martha J. Clancy, and sister of the late Dorothy Denniston and Pauline Bailey.

A funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Agatha Church on Aug. 30. Burial was in Blue Hill Cemetery, Braintree.

Donations may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215, in memory of Martha Clancy.