NATICK: Jennifer (Davey) McConathy, Age 69, died peacefully at Sherrill House Nursing Home in Jamaica Plain on Tuesday evening, July 2, 2013, after nearly a decade enduring the ravages of Frontotemporal Dementia. She leaves behind her loving husband of forty-nine years Osbourne McConathy of Brookline, her son Jonathan, his wife Susan, and grandchildren Jake and Zane of Jamaica Plain.
Jennifer was born to Bernard and Beatrice (Dyniewicz) Davey in New York City. She is survived by her brother John Davey (Meda) of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and her sister Christina Small (Jim) of Ajijic, Mexico. She was a loyal and devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, sister-in-law and friend. Jennifer was predeceased by her younger sister Susan and older brother Michael.
Jennifer attended Loyola University in Chicago, graduated with a B.S. degree in Education from Boston State College, and earned a M.A. degree in English from Boston College. She was a dedicated and inspired educator, teaching sixth grade in the Natick Public Schools from 1971 to 2003. She took pride communicating a joy for learning especially in the subjects of literature, poetry, and nature.
She was a passionate supporter and advocate for the environment, peace, justice, and equality. Guided by her strong faith in God and dedicated to the Catholic Church, she also was a strong proponent for the expanded role for women in the Church, and in particular for the admission of women to the diaconate. She was a devoted and enthusiastic lector and parishioner of Corpus Christi Parish in Newton, St. Patrick Parish in Natick and Paulist Center in Boston.
Jennifer took particular pleasure in the arts, attending the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Opera and various Boston-area theater productions. Never just an observer, she was also an exuberant student of the arts, acting in community theatre productions for the Newton Country Players, and playing the flute and piano for many years. She delighted in many things, family friends, and colleagues, and she in turn will be remembered as a delight to them all.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Paulist Center, 5 Park St., Boston, on Friday, July 12th at 10:00a.m. Visiting hours at the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common, Natick, are to be Thursday 4 – 7p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Paulist Center, 5 Park St., Boston, MA. 02108 or the Association for Frontotemporal Dementia, Radnor Station Bldg. 2, Suite 320, 290 King of Prussia Rd., Radnor, PA 19087. For the guest book and directions please visit www.everettfuneral.com.