Mamie "May" Chin Hryniewicz, a 57-year resident of Brookline, died on July 20 after a courageous nine-month battle against lymphoma. She was 58. A beach-lover with an eclectic taste in music and a love for all foods, all flowers and all the good in the world around her, May wore many hats throughout her life, but the caps she wore most proudly and devotedly were those of loving mother, wife, loyal friend and faithful Catholic. May worked in her family's restaurant in Gloucester through her high school years while excelling at Brookline High, before interning in the newsroom of The Boston Globe while studying for her business degree at Boston State College and later UMass Boston. In 1980 while at The Globe, she met the love of her life and future husband, Henry Hryniewicz. After graduating from UMass Boston in 1983, May worked as an analyst for the State Rate-Setting Commission. Following her marriage in 1986, May began her true life's work: Becoming a mother and raising Hank's and her four children, Emma, Ian, Adam and Abby. She continued work as an independent real estate appraiser through the early 90s, but family always took top priority. She scheduled all of her appointments and inspections around her children's activities. She then worked as the school secretary at St. Mary of the Assumption while Emma and Ian attended there, setting up a playpen in the office for Adam and then Abby to "work with her". As her family got older she went to work in retail at Linens and Things before moving on to become head cashier at Modell's Sporting Goods in Newton, where she remained a loyal and valued employee for 13 years. She passed up multiple opportunities to become a manager because it would take her away from her family. She continued to work "mother's hours" to make sure she could provide the taxi service to after-school events and to get home to make scrumptious dinners and tend to various family matters before heading off to games. She attended dance lessons, class plays and assemblies, and became a student of sports, watching and learning as her brood played in Brookline's youth baseball, lacrosse and hockey programs. She was a fixture at Emma's dance recitals and Fontbonne Academy concerts and on the sidelines for Ian's, Adam's and Abby's baseball, hockey and lacrosse games in Brookline and beyond. May always had a smile on her face watching her children grow and learn. She glowed at their every success and comforted them through trying times, always with words of wisdom and encouragement. She allowed them to develop their own personalities but taught them how to open their hearts to those around them. May's warm and caring heart extended beyond the boundaries of her household to her many friends and co-workers. She was a faithful friend, confidante and advisor to all who came into her life, offering cookies, brownies and banana bread and most importantly a strong yet comforting shoulder to cry on and always wide-open ears to listen without judgement. She was the best kind of advisor, always offering her words of wisdom without force and never preaching. Her steady, soft voice and bright eyes did all the work when she'd deliver her signature mantra: "Listen before you speak, and think before you react." With her children grown, May finally started to focus on herself a bit more, signing up for swimming classes at Brookline's Kirrane Pool, where she met another group of dear friends who shared her love of food, laughter and finding the good in their daily lives, no matter how simple. She also spent hours on her Kindle, reading mostly suspense and mystery novels. And she even started using Ian's Netflix account to watch some of her favorite movies. Today she will be smiling down from above as she admires her successful children and the warmth her family and friends feel when thinking of their connections with her. She was so proud of her family, friendships and love of God and of any help she was able to lend in all of her life's endeavors. Visiting hours will be held in the Bell-O'Dea Funeral Home, 376 Washington St., Brookline on Monday July 24, 2017 from 4:00 - 8:00 PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday July 25, 2017 at 10:00 AM in St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 5 Linden Pl., Brookline. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Interment will follow in Walnut Hills Cemetery.