Mary Jo (Sweeney) Dussault, 85, of Topsfield, formerly of Peabody, died peacefully Monday evening at her home surrounded by her family following a lengthy illness. She was the devoted wife of Richard R “Dick” Dussault with whom she shared over 61 years of marriage.

Born in Salem, she was the daughter of the late John J and Esther J (Horrigan) Sweeney. She was raised and educated in Peabody and was a graduate of Peabody High School, class of 1955. She continued her education at Salem State College and received her bachelor’s degree in 1959 and later received her master’s degree from Cambridge College in 1990.

Mary Jo taught for over 28 years at both the elementary and high school levels from 1959 until her retirement in 1998. She began her teaching career at Lasell Junior College where she taught business education for one year. For the next few years, she taught 4th grade in Peabody and Brentwood, NY school systems before starting her family. In 1966, she went back to work as a substitute teacher for nine years. In 1975, she began her Chapter One Reading in the Peabody and Portsmouth, NH Public School systems until 1986. For the next 12 years she taught in the Beverly Middle School’s system where she taught Language Arts, Reading, Social Studies, and Business Education until retiring in 1998.

Mary Jo was a member of the West Peabody Home Makers, served on various Great Hill Homeowners Association committees, while wintering in Estero, Florida, she served on the Lee County Literacy program and enjoyed playing Mah Jong with clubs in both Florida and Great Hill, Topsfield.

Besides her loving husband of 61 years, she is survived by her son, Michael R Dussault of Beverly, her two daughters and sons-in-law, Kathleen and Paul Clune of Beverly, and Patricia and William Puglisi of Newburyport, her beloved grandchildren, Sean Deady, Kayla Wioncek and her husband Joseph, Timothy Puglisi, Madelyn Puglisi, Jack Dussault and Olivia Dussault, her great grandchildren, Theodore, Jameson, and Broderick Wioncek, and is also survived by several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother John J Sweeney.

Her funeral will be held on Wednesday at 9:30 AM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St, Peabody, followed by her Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM at St. Rose of Lima Church, Topsfield to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday from 4:00 until 7:00 PM. Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Topsfield. Expressions of sympathy can be made either to the Alzheimer Association MA/NH Chapter, 309 Waverly Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452 or www.a;z.org/MANH or to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St, Framingham, MA 01701.