Maria "Ria" (Bevilacqua) Garron

Maria (Ria) Garron

April 25, 1930 - July 9, 2020

Maria (Ria) Garron, age 90, of Norwood passed peacefully with her loving husband by her side on July 9, 2020. Born April 25, 1930 in Quincy, MA. She grew up in Hough's Neck, Quincy and graduated from Quincy High School in 1948. She worked at Liberty Mutual Insurance Co and then went on to manage a small magazine company. Ria was a member of the Old Colony Ski Club in New Hampshire where she met the love of her life. As a superior skier and with a '53 Ford Convertible, she was noticed by many, but it was Joseph Garron who caught her eye. The two quickly fell in love and were married on November 26, 1955 and remained happily married for 65 years.
They moved to Norwood in 1959 where they built a home and family together. While raising four children, Ria worked in the Norwood School System for 27 years most notably Balch Elementary. Ria worked at Fenway Park for 15 years becoming part of Red Sox nation making pizzas for their concessions until age 85.
Ria loved her children and grandchildren beyond measure. She sewed all of her kids' Halloween costumes and many of their outfits, even making her daughters' matching dresses. Ria loved celebrating her family's birthdays and never stopped her tradition of baking them their favorite cake. She was a hands-on grandmother who passed down her love of cards and board games.
Ria spent many summers camping with her family at Curlew Pond in Plymouth, MA. For a special treat, the six of them would venture to a nearby farm stand to get sweet corn. On the family's most infamous vacation, they all crammed into a station wagon for a four-week cross country camping trip visiting all the major national parks across America. Ria wanted to pack in as many sites as possible which required weeks of practicing taking down the tent trailer in seven minutes or less in order to ensure an early start each day.
Ria was a member of the Girl Scouts of the USA for over 75 years and dedicated her life to the girls and scouting. She became the recipient of the Thanks Badge, the highest volunteer honor. With 65 girls in her troop, she had the largest cadet troop in Eastern MA. Ria planned many travels for her troop including the unique opportunity of an international exchange program with England where lifelong friendships were formed.
Ria lived a full life. Weekly water aerobics and monthly theater events were some of her favorite interests. She was outstanding in the kitchen and everyone wanted to come to her house for the best homemade food. She had a passion for traveling; she traveled the world visiting every continent except one: Antarctica. Ria never did anything halfway and she was always ready for life's next adventure.
Ria loved people and was a friend to many. When she was your friend, she was your friend for life. She had a big heart and she was the first to help anyone wherever she went.
Ria is survived by her husband, Joseph and four children, Paul Garron and wife, Lynette of Thousand Oaks, CA; Mary Garron and husband, Robert Goodale of Dedham, MA; Barbara Nado and husband, Ken of Attleboro, MA; Laurie Garron and husband, Alex Bourne of Hallowell, ME. She is the proud grandmother to eight grandchildren, Sasha and Shayn Garron; Loring and Mackenzie Goodale; Zachary Nado and fiancé Leslie, and Nicole Down and her husband Peter; Lexie and Zander Bourne; and one great-grandson, James Down. Sister to Dora Lockhead and Alice Costello and aunt to many nieces and nephews