Geraldine McCarthy, 96, lovingly known to all as Gerry, peacefully and joyously slipped away to join her late husband Paul J. McCarthy and beloved family members on April 21, 2013. Born in East Boston, MA, on September 30, 1916 to Jenny (Corvino) and Vincent Vecchione, she was a 1934 graduate of East Boston High School. Gerry was an East Boston girl through and through, from her “Bawstin” accent to her love for the sea and to her deep appreciation and affection for the many public school teachers and librarians who encouraged her innate curiosity and eagerness to learn and know. Gerry and “Mac” raised their three children in Malden where she lived for 54 years before finally residing at Life Care of the South Shore in Scituate for the past three years, where she was lovingly tended to by the many who enjoyed her spunk. She was fond of gardening, painting, poetry, story telling, walking, dancing, bowling, and playing her beloved piano. She especially enjoyed her family and beguiled her siblings, children and grandchildren with stories both real and fantastical. She was playful, loyal to a fault, loving, and just fun to be with. Gerry was predeceased by her thirteen siblings, Elise, Mary, John, Albert, Elvira Louise, Helen, Arthur, William, Adeline, Margaret, Jean, Vincent, and Laura, all of them her oldest and dearest friends. Gerry is survived by her three children and their spouses, Paul F. McCarthy and his wife Susan of Marshfield, MA, Janice Dawson and her husband Brent of Lancaster, CA, and Kevin J. McCarthy and his wife Diana Talkington of Freedom, NH. Gerry leaves behind her grandchildren: Jennifer McCarthy and her husband Dennis Knepp, Kara McCarthy and her husband Gene McKenna, and Kevin M. McCarthy and his wife Sara Ulanet; Meredith Dawson, Trevor Dawson and his wife Cynthia Haddock, Alistair Dawson, Graham Dawson, and Lowell Dawson; Leah McCarthy and Kurt McCarthy, and her great-grandchildren, Alexandra Knepp, Arlo Knepp; Cooper McKenna, Sawyer McKenna, Bowen Gerald McKenna; Liliana Dawson; and Maya McCarthy. Gerry leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews who in turn loved her style and vitality.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the visiting hours Thursday 4-8 p.m. in the MacDonald Funeral Home, 1755 Ocean Street, Marshfield, MA, 02050. A celebration of life service will be held in the funeral home at 9:00 a.m. Friday prior to the funeral Mass at St. Christine’s Church, Marshfield, MA at 10:00 a.m. Burial will take place on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to a charity of your choice.