Ursula Mary (Looney) Tafe

Ursula Mary (Looney) Tafe, age 87, passed on December 5. Ursula was a long-time resident of Harwich and Newton Centre, Massachusetts. Born on April 4, 1934 to William F. and Ursula M. (Ryan) Looney, she grew up in West Roxbury and maintained life-long friendships with many of her childhood ‘pals’. Ursula graduated from Roslindale High School and Bridgewater State College. She went on to earn a master’s degree in education from the State Teachers College at Boston and taught in the Stoughton and Natick Public Schools where she was Vice Principal.

Ursula married her beloved husband of nearly 60 years, the late H. Lawrence Tafe, III (Larry) in 1960, with whom she raised nine children. While for many years Ursula’s time was spent driving her children to and from their many sport practices and musical or theatrical rehearsals, never missing their many game days and performances, she also found time to serve as a Doric Dame at the Massachusetts State House, religious education teacher at Sacred Heart Parish in Newton Centre, and worked as a Teacher’s Aid in the Newton Public Schools where she also volunteered as a Library Assistant at Mason-Rice Elementary and Bigelow Junior High Schools. Ursula’s welcoming home and no-nonsense approach to the rearing of teenagers made her Newton home a safe haven for many of her children’s friends. There was always room for one more at the dinner table and an extra freshly made bed for a friend to find respite. Ursula’s generosity of heart was deeply felt by all who knew her.

Ursula was blessed with 11 wonderful grandchildren who brought her infinite joy. Grandma’s New Year’s Eve parades and spontaneous trips to choose a toy at Benny’s were among the many special traditions they shared. Her unconditional love for each child was abundantly returned.

Ursula shared her husband’s love of opera, regularly planning trips around the schedules of opera companies in New York, San Francisco and Chicago. Their inaugural trip abroad to London, in 1976, began a decades-long love of travel together to Europe visiting Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy, The Hague and many other historic and beautiful locations.

Upon taking up year-long residency in Harwich in 2003, Ursula immediately found friendship, camaraderie, and community. She was always grateful for the friendship of her loving, caring, and fun cul-de-sac neighbors. She found camaraderie as an active member of the Harwich Democratic Town Committee from whom she received the 2015 Mabel Canto Democrat of the Year Award. Ursula’s faith community at Holy Trinity Church in Harwich sustained her spiritually. With a charitable heart and a boundless energy, she championed the Ladies Guild while also supporting the Prayer Chain so that she could offer her voice among the ‘many voices raised in prayer for the same need’. She regularly sat in vigil at Our Lady of Life Adoration Chapel. Ursula found great joy in singing from the pews (half-way down, on the left!) alongside the members of the Adult Choir, and spending every Sunday morning sitting at the piano with Larry helping to prepare him to sing with the choir at 11:00AM mass.

Ursula was an avid reader and lover of books, evidenced by the abundance of bookshelves throughout her home, including the “garage room”. Ursula most enjoyed a celebration of any size, from hosting a clambake in the backyard to sharing a meal with friends and family at the dining room table. She made sure that everyone felt like family. In a crowd she often gravitated toward the wallflowers to offer companionship and engage in welcoming conversation.

Ursula leaves behind her nine children, Anne M. Graw and her husband George of Andover, Elizabeth M. Tafe of Belmont, Ursula C. Tafe of Norwood, H. Lawrence Tafe IV of Cleveland Heights, OH, Edward J. Tafe and his wife Monica Canilang of Sunnyvale, CA, Sarah Tafe Johnson of Woonsocket, RI, Emily P. Tafe of Cambridge, John W. Tafe and his wife Nicola of Glasgow, Scotland, and Daniel P. Tafe and his wife Meghan of Long Valley, NJ. In addition, she leaves her loving grandchildren Samantha, Kimberly and Timothy Johnson, Henry Lawrence V, Owen, Emma, Holly, Ayanna, and Tory Tafe, and Molly and Maggie Graw. Ursula also leaves her sister Anne Paulsen and her husband Frederick of Belmont. She is predeceased by her brother William F. Looney, Jr. and his wife Constance. She also leaves behind her brothers-in-law David M. Tafe and his wife Christine of Kennebunkport, ME, and Paul D. Tafe and his wife Joan of Braintree, as well as many loving cousins, nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit at the Doane Beal & Ames Funeral Home, 260 Main St., West Harwich, Sunday, December 12, from 2:00-6:00PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, December 13, at Holy Trinity Parish, 246 Main St., West Harwich at 10:30AM, followed by a luncheon. Burial will take place on Tuesday, December 14, at 11:00AM at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, West Roxbury.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the family respectfully requests that masks be worn at each event. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to: The Family Pantry - 133 Queen Anne Road Harwich MA 02645 (https://www.thefamilypantry.com/Donations).