Mom who helped raise more than 70 kids remembered as a legend

BRAINTREE, Mass. — A foster mother remembered for all the lives she helped shape - and there are a lot of them.

Miriam Gannon helped raise more than 70 children in all, and it started with a nudge from her biological daughter during mass at St. Thomas More Church in Braintree.

The priest was petitioning parishioners to consider being foster parents when Gannon's daughter, Maryanne Zeller, picked up on the plea.

"I said to my parents, 'Here's a way I can get brothers and sisters'", Zeller told Boston 25 News.

Little did Zeller know, her nudge would award her 23 brothers and sisters.

"Once any child came they were immediately a Gannon," she said.

Gannon died after a months-long battle with Lymphoma. In all, she and her late husband raised 51 foster kids and 23 adopted children.

"They saw the impact you could make in a short period of time in a child's life just by being consistent, loving them and giving nurturance to them," Zeller said.

Bernard Gannon first entered the family at the age of 6. He was adopted five years later, but said Mrs. Gannon made is identity clear long before then.

"When you entered, you were part of the family," he said.  "I was her son and I knew that very early on."

David Gannon said he arrived in Mrs. Gannon's family after being in 13 homes and an orphanage – but none of that mattered and he was adopted at 14.

"For myself, I was, what you would say is, damaged goods," David said. "I probably wouldn't even be alive. They saved my life."

Mrs. Gannon took in her last child, an infant named Nicole, when she was 66. That was 21 years ago.

"She had a one on one relationship with all of us," Nicole said. "She was still the same caring, loving mom. she put her needs aside and took care of us."

Knowing what her children needed was her gift, Mrs. Gannon's children said, and a rare one at that.

"Mom knew what you needed, you know, emotionally, and she was there for you," Bernard said.

Funeral services will be held 10am Wednesday at St. Francis of Assisi in Braintree.

Cox Media Group