Roberta “Bobbi” (MacKinnon) McCarron died peacefully on April 22, 2026 with her family by her side after a courageous fight with Interstitial Lung Disease.
Bobbi had a beautiful smile that lit up her entire face and was quick-witted. She relied on her sense of humor to help get her through life and also used it to help make others smile, all the way to the end of her life. She was an incredibly welcoming person who always opened her door, whether it was to her kids’ friends, family members, or those who were in need of help. She exuded immeasurable kindness and had a way about her that made people feel welcome in her presence. A wonderful cook, Bobbi would make large batches of meatballs or the family recipe of Anadama bread to serve to her large family. The holidays were her favorite time of year, and she would not only decorate her house to the nines, but she would also make amazing crafts and gifts for her friends and family.
Bobbi was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Pat and Bob MacKinnon. One of 10 children, Bobbi will be missed by each of her siblings and in-laws: Jimmy (Debbie), Pat, Joan (Tommy), Mary (Robbie), Mike (Susan), Joe (Leslie), Karen (Mike), and Jake (Eileen). She was also the loving sister of Kathy, who lost her fight to the same disease. Bobbi was blessed to be the aunt to over 30 nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly.
Bobbi grew up as a member of the St. Theresa’s Parish in West Roxbury and played the piccolo in the St. Theresa’s CYO band. She continued her education at Madison Park High School in the musical program developed by Arthur Fiedler. She was awarded the honor of studying flute at Tanglewood, played at the Hatch Shell as a member of the Greater Bostonian Orchestra, sang in Washington, D.C. for the bicentennial in a concert with Johnny Cash, and performed on television at Boston Symphony Hall. She attended the University of Lowell for music education, but took a hiatus to raise her children. As a single mom, she worked diligently to put herself through college to earn her Associate's Degree at Middlesex Community College. Bobbi began her career as a medical receptionist, and before retirement, she rose to become the Vice President of the Merrimack Valley Independent Physicians Association at Saints Memorial Medical Center in Lowell.
The true loves of her life, though, were her children: Terence, Bobby, Kristin, and Dan. Bobbi was the glue who held the family together, and her children will miss her terribly. She was blessed to have had a wonderful son-in-law, Dave McManus (Kristin), and two daughters-in-law, Vanessa Okumu-McCarron (Bobby) and Michelle Magana (Dan). Her most precious joys were her grandkids: Lainey and Julia McManus (Kristin), and Elijah, Xavier, Athena, and Ares Okumu-McCarron (Bobby). She enjoyed every minute that she spent with her grandchildren, often having them over to her house for sleepovers and trying to spend special one-on-one time with each one of them. She would play games, teach them how to cook or bake one of her signature dishes, and support them in all their endeavors. As she would say to all of her children and grandchildren, “I love you more!”
Visiting hours will be held at the William J. Gormley Funeral Home, 2055 Centre St., West Roxbury, MA, Thursday, April 30th from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Funeral from the funeral home on Friday, May 1st at 9:00 AM followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Theresa of Avila Church West Roxbury at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, Bobbi asked those who can to donate to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation or the Celiac Disease Foundation.
Bobbi had a beautiful smile that lit up her entire face and was quick-witted. She relied on her sense of humor to help get her through life and also used it to help make others smile, all the way to the end of her life. She was an incredibly welcoming person who always opened her door, whether it was to her kids’ friends, family members, or those who were in need of help. She exuded immeasurable kindness and had a way about her that made people feel welcome in her presence. A wonderful cook, Bobbi would make large batches of meatballs or the family recipe of Anadama bread to serve to her large family. The holidays were her favorite time of year, and she would not only decorate her house to the nines, but she would also make amazing crafts and gifts for her friends and family.
Bobbi was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Pat and Bob MacKinnon. One of 10 children, Bobbi will be missed by each of her siblings and in-laws: Jimmy (Debbie), Pat, Joan (Tommy), Mary (Robbie), Mike (Susan), Joe (Leslie), Karen (Mike), and Jake (Eileen). She was also the loving sister of Kathy, who lost her fight to the same disease. Bobbi was blessed to be the aunt to over 30 nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly.
Bobbi grew up as a member of the St. Theresa’s Parish in West Roxbury and played the piccolo in the St. Theresa’s CYO band. She continued her education at Madison Park High School in the musical program developed by Arthur Fiedler. She was awarded the honor of studying flute at Tanglewood, played at the Hatch Shell as a member of the Greater Bostonian Orchestra, sang in Washington, D.C. for the bicentennial in a concert with Johnny Cash, and performed on television at Boston Symphony Hall. She attended the University of Lowell for music education, but took a hiatus to raise her children. As a single mom, she worked diligently to put herself through college to earn her Associate's Degree at Middlesex Community College. Bobbi began her career as a medical receptionist, and before retirement, she rose to become the Vice President of the Merrimack Valley Independent Physicians Association at Saints Memorial Medical Center in Lowell.
The true loves of her life, though, were her children: Terence, Bobby, Kristin, and Dan. Bobbi was the glue who held the family together, and her children will miss her terribly. She was blessed to have had a wonderful son-in-law, Dave McManus (Kristin), and two daughters-in-law, Vanessa Okumu-McCarron (Bobby) and Michelle Magana (Dan). Her most precious joys were her grandkids: Lainey and Julia McManus (Kristin), and Elijah, Xavier, Athena, and Ares Okumu-McCarron (Bobby). She enjoyed every minute that she spent with her grandchildren, often having them over to her house for sleepovers and trying to spend special one-on-one time with each one of them. She would play games, teach them how to cook or bake one of her signature dishes, and support them in all their endeavors. As she would say to all of her children and grandchildren, “I love you more!”
Visiting hours will be held at the William J. Gormley Funeral Home, 2055 Centre St., West Roxbury, MA, Thursday, April 30th from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Funeral from the funeral home on Friday, May 1st at 9:00 AM followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Theresa of Avila Church West Roxbury at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, Bobbi asked those who can to donate to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation or the Celiac Disease Foundation.
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