Marrey (Lucco) Embers

Dr. Marrey Embers, of Roslindale, MA passed away peacefully on February 11, 2024, after a heroic battle with interstitial lung disease.  

Born on August 31, 1938, Dr. Marrey Embers charted a most remarkable life journey defined by learning, self-reflection and a search for social justice. She was born and raised in Gary, Indiana to a family with strong Polish and Italian immigrant roots, and was proud to be the daughter of a steel mill worker. Marrey cherished her family heritage, handing down traditions to her children, and she recently celebrated the traditional Polish Wigilia on Christmas Eve.

Marrey was a lifelong learner and the first person in her family to graduate from college, working multiple jobs to put herself through Purdue University. Much of her life devoted to academic achievement, she was proud to receive her Doctorate of Education from Harvard University. Marrey was deeply committed to causes that advanced social justice, education, environmental activism, and civil rights, in both her professional and personal life. She surrounded herself with friends and colleagues who shared her values, interests, and dedication.

The racial and social justice movement of the 1960s became a lifelong calling for Marrey. Professionally, she worked as a consultant, helping private companies, nonprofits, and governments collaborate more effectively and embrace diversity. Her crusade for social justice spanned decades, from supporting workers in Cuba in the early 1970s to a pilgrimage to Montgomery and Selma in more recent years, seeking to heal racial wounds and foster understanding.

She was an undergraduate student at Purdue when she received a telephone call from Johnn O'Sullivan, who had dialed the wrong number accidentally. Their chance encounter became a lifelong connection, and Johnn was her spouse of sixty years until he pre-deceased her in 2021. Marrey and Johnn traveled extensively in their many decades together, including river trips spent camping and rafting with their Montana family, rustic beach retreats to the dunes of Cape Cod and St. John, exploring Ireland, and visiting extended family and friends across Indiana, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, California, Florida, Montana, and elsewhere throughout the country in their VW camper van. Marrey was an avid gardener and lover of the natural world. She volunteered to help increase opportunities for urban farming, and spent countless happy hours tending to her beautiful yard and walking in Boston’s Arnold Arboretum accompanied by her beloved dog, Darwin. Wherever she went, Marrey brought a sense of wonder and delight and a deep engagement with the energy of the universe.     

Marrey is survived by her children Maurya Sullivan and Joel Kadis of Newton, Liam Sullivan and Eric Falcon of Roslindale, and Tim and Jen Sullivan of Brookline, as well as five grandchildren: Colin and Riley Kadis, and Nachum, Devin and Peter Johnn Sullivan, and extended family and countless dear friends who were like family to her.

Please join us for a celebration of Marrey's life
We are hosting a celebration of our mom's life on March 16th at 11am in Cambridge.  If you are able to join us in-person or via livestream online, please RSVP here.

https://forms.gle/yN2Ge5F3tdmD2HWm8 

Details will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to their favorite charity in Marrey’s name.