Haverhill: Mary Linda (Howell) Lesiczka, 99, a longtime resident of Haverhill, died peacefully in her sleep at her home on March 9, 2020.

She was born on August 16th, 1920 in Lynn, Massachusetts, daughter of the late James and Lynda (Belliveau) Howell.

Mary grew up in Lynn, where she attended local schools, including Saint Mary's High School and later moved to Haverhill, MA when she married her late husband, Joseph Lesiczka. Mary and Joseph spent sixty-one happily married years together, until his death in 2002, and raised four children. Over the course of her long life she was known as Linda to some, but to most she was known as Grammy. She adored her many grandchildren ranging from grandchildren to great-great-grandchildren.

Mary was very talented when it came to crafts. Her sewing machine was a permanent fixture in her dining room along with numerous puzzles. She enjoyed making clothes and was always available to make alterations for a family member or make heartfelt handmade gifts, such as clowns and dolls. She was also very talented at knitting and made several sweaters and mittens and even shared her talents with her grandchildren, teaching them how to knit and sew.

In addition to her artistic talents, she also loved crossword puzzles, word searches and jigsaw puzzles. Throughout her life there was always a book of crosswords or word searches within arm's reach and an in-progress jigsaw puzzle on her table, which is what kept her so sharp and quick witted right to the end.

Mary is survived by her son Carl J. Lesiczka and his wife Mary of Sebring, FL, her daughter Carol A. O'Neil of Pepperell, MA her son Michael D. Lesiczka and his wife Deborah of Haverhill, MA and her daughter Candia Kruse and husband Fred of Frisco, CO, and her sister-in-law Agnes Briggs of Naugatuck, CT, along with twelve grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother James Howell and a brother and sister-in-law, John and Lorraine Howell.

Relatives and friends are invited to calling hours on Thursday, March 12, 2020 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Plaistow, NH. Her funeral will begin on Friday morning, March 13, 2020 at 8:45 a.m. from the funeral home, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Saint John the Baptist Church, Lincoln Avenue, Haverhill. Burial will follow in Walnut Cemetery, Haverhill. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Merrimack Valley Hospice, Merrimack St, Lawrence, MA. To send a message of condolence to the family, please visit www.brooksidechapelfh.com