Teresa Nora Cunnane

Teresa Nora (Folliard) Cunnane, age 102, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at Sunrise Assisted Living in Norwood, Massachusetts. She was born in Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, Ireland, on October 13, 1923, and was the daughter of the late John and Bridget (Waldron) Folliard. Teresa grew up on her family’s farm in Ballyhaunis, learning the ropes of farm life from a young age. She received her education locally and later earned a business certificate, which led her to work as a buyer for Forde’s Department Store in downtown Ballyhaunis.

Teresa married her beloved husband, Bernard Cunnane, on March 4, 1946, in Tooreen, County Mayo, Ireland. Not long after tying the knot, Bernard saw an opportunity to move to the United States, and about eight months later, he sent for Teresa. They made their home with relatives in Walpole, Massachusetts. As their family grew, they built a house on Massachusetts Avenue in Walpole, giving their four boys plenty of space and a warm home. In the early years, Teresa was focused on raising her family, taking care of her sons and managing her household with love and devotion.

Once her boys were all in school, Teresa went back to work, starting with night shifts at Kendall Mills in Walpole, working in the diaper department. She then moved on to quality control at RCA in Needham before beginning her career at Polaroid in Norwood. At Polaroid, she worked closely with engineers in quality control, testing out the latest cameras and ensuring everything worked perfectly. After retiring in 1988, Teresa shifted her focus back to her family, happily helping care for her grandchildren.

Throughout her life, Teresa was deeply committed to her faith. She was an active member of Blessed Sacrament Church in Walpole, participating in prayer groups, serving as a Eucharistic Minister, and visiting those who couldn’t come to church. Her faith journey took her beyond Walpole when she traveled to Vatican City, where she deepened her connection to the heart of the Catholic Church.

Teresa also loved to shop—perhaps a fond throwback to her days at Forde’s. She enjoyed spending afternoons at the mall, trying on clothes and asking Bernard’s opinion. She’d often come home with several outfits before choosing her favorites. Even as of late, she enjoyed picking out clothes, selecting the perfect dress for her 100th birthday.

At home, Teresa was always ready to welcome visitors—she’d have one of her famous pies and a cup of tea waiting. Her apple, blueberry, cherry, lemon meringue pies, and chocolate cake were legendary. Despite her sweet tooth, she maintained a healthy lifestyle—she never drove a car, preferring to walk around her neighborhood, doing her laps daily, which surely contributed to her long, vibrant life.

Although she spent many years in the U.S., Teresa’s heart remained with Ireland. She made numerous trips back to her hometown, visiting relatives and sharing stories about her childhood in rural western Ireland with her family. Over the years, her travels took her to Italy and various places across the U.S. She loved taking family trips to Cape Cod, hosting annual vacations in Dennisport. Whenever relatives visited, she enjoyed showing them around Boston, Cape Cod, and Newport with lively walking tours. Once her son Brian settled in Florida, Teresa and Bernard spent weeks there, escaping the Massachusetts cold. They also enjoyed trips to New Hampshire, including visits to The Balsams Resort with Bernard’s sister Mary and her husband, Peter. In later years, Teresa enjoyed traveling with her family to North Conway, exploring the beautiful Kancamagus Highway and Franconia Notch.

Most of all, Teresa adored her family. She and Bernard shared an incredible sixty-one years of love, faith, and family. They worked hard to give their children everything they needed, including college educations, but Sundays were always special—a morning breakfast, church, and a drive to a favorite lunch spot. She was overjoyed with the arrival of her grandsons, earning the titles "Grandma" and "Grammie." She cherished attending their weddings and later celebrating as her family grew with great-grandchildren, earning the sweet new name "Gran."

Beloved wife of the late Bernard Cunnane.

Loving mother of Michael E. Cunnane and his wife Gail of Walpole, Brian J. Cunnane and his wife Linda of Issaquah, Washington, Richard J. Cunnane of Lexington, and the late Kevin P. Cunnane and his surviving wife Janice of Scituate.

Cherished grandmother of Scott Cunnane and his wife Lisa, Timothy Cunnane and his partner Katrina, Christopher Cunnane and his wife Emily, Jason Cunnane and his wife Courtney, and Eric Cunnane and his wife Jaime; and great grandmother of Joshua Cunnane, Erin Cunnane, Henry Cunnane, Maya Cunnane, Cameron Cunnane, Connor Cunnane, Nora Cunnane, Grayson Cunnane, and Ian Cunnane.

Sister of the late Patrick Folliard, Maureen Murphy, Kathleen Madden, Bridget Folliard, and Philomena Rattigan.

Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Teresa's visitation on Monday, February 2nd, 2026, from 4:00 - 7:00 pm in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026, at 10:00 am in Blessed Sacrament Church, 10 Diamond Street, Walpole. Interment will follow at Saint Francis Cemetery in Walpole.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Teresa's name may be made to the American Parkinson Disease Association, Massachusetts Chapter at PO Box 272, Sharon, MA 02067 or by visiting https://www.apdaparkinson.org/community/massachusetts/