Marsha Mae (Metcalf) Agostino

Marsha M. (Metcalf) Agostino, wife of the late Paul J. Agostino, passed at LifeCare of Merrimack Valley in Billerica, MA on September 11, 2023 surrounded by her family.  

Raised in Malden, MA, she graduated from Malden High School, Class of 1964. She later earned her LPN degree from Tewksbury State Hospital School of Practical Nursing.

Marsha worked several jobs over the years, each one different from the next.  When her children were young, she waited tables at Pewter Pot in Wilmington to save up for nursing school.  After becoming an LPN, she worked at Tewksbury State Hospital and later as a charge nurse at Woburn Nursing Center for many years.  She ended her nursing career by shifting from geriatrics to obstetrics, helping deliver several babies of patients in her care.  In “retirement”, Marsha worked at Flaherty Jewelers in Wilmington.  

Marsha was involved with several Masonic organizations.  She was a member of Billerica Chapter No. 212, Order of the Eastern Star; a Past Mother Advisor of Tewksbury’s Wamesit Assembly No. 88, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls; and a Lady Shriner, volunteering every year at the Aleppo Shriner’s Circus.  She was also a member of the Tewksbury-Wilmington Emblem Club and a friend of the Harnden Tavern in Wilmington, always helping at their annual holiday open house. She was also known to many as Mrs. Claus or the Teddy Bear at the Billerica Public Library’s annual picnic.

Over the years, Marsha enjoyed many hobbies, including crafting; tole painting; reading; playing Mah Jongg; and traveling, including trips to Alaska, Irelandand Germany.  She was well-known for puttering around her garden and yard; keeping a freezer full of popsicles for grandkids visiting the North Pole, aka “Grammie’s Pool”; and keeping her Christmas tree up year-round simply because it made her happy.  

Marsha is survived by her children, Kristina Ramsdell and her husband Ken of Wilmington, Lisa Botte and her husband Jeff of Billerica, and Brian Oxman and his wife Sarah of Sturbridge; stepson Wayne Agostino and his wife Amy of Londonderry, NH; grandchildren, the late Henry Ramsdell, Chad and Amanda Ramsdell, Jared and Marina Botte, Mason, Addison, and Jake Oxman, Danilsa Gomez-Liriano, and Emily, and Michael Agostino; and great-granddaughters Evianna and Berlin.  She is also survived by her sister, M. Christine Lord and her husband Russell of Bonita Springs, FL as well as her brother, Mark Metcalf and his wife Debra of Arlington, TX; her sister-in-law Janet Polcaro and her husband Bob; her brother-in-law Robert Agostino and his wife Kathy; her former husband and his wife, Jeff and Diane Oxman; and hersisters-in-law who were more like sisters, Jean Metcalf and Barbara Michaud.  Marsha is also survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews, neighbors, and friends.  Marsha was predeceased by her parents, Ralph L. and Anna Mae (Oxton) Metcalf as well as her brother, Noel R. Metcalf.

Marsha’s children would like to sincerely thank the staff at both LifeCare of Merrimack Valley in Billerica and New England Hospice, who were so kind and helpful in caring for our mom in her final days.  From the nurses and CNAs to the front desk, housekeeping, and facilities staff, every single employee at LifeCare knew mom by name and looked out for her, and for that we are eternally grateful.  

Family and friends will gather for Visitation at the Nichols Funeral Home, 187 Middlesex Ave., (Rte. 62), Wilmington, on Thursday, September 14th from 3:30-6:30 p.m.  A Funeral Service will be held at the Tewksbury Congregational Church, 10 East Street, Tewksbury, on Friday, September 15th at 10:00 a.m.  Interment will follow in Forestdale Cemetery, Malden.

Donations in Marsha’s memory may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital Transportation Fund, the Alzheimer’s Association, or any charity of your choosing.