Geraldine Doris Jeanne (Murray) Hagerty, of South Harwich, died suddenly at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth on Pearl Harbor Day, Tuesday, December 7, 2010, surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife and best friend of the late Thomas F. Hagerty for 59 wonderful years. ‘Tom and Gerry’ met at the Veterans Administration, Boston, where Gerry worked as a stenographer. They were married in Saint Polycarp’s Church in Somerville on April 23, 1949. Gerry is predeceased by her father, Francis Murray, who built the Boston Globe building and her redheaded, homemaker mother, Agnes (McGowan) Murray.
Born in Charlestown, MA., she grew up at the foot of the Bunker Hill Monument, later residing in Hyde Park, Canton and Holbrook, before building her dream-retirement home in South Harwich in 1985. Gerry graduated from Charlestown High School at historic Faneuil Hall, during WWII. She volunteered for the USO during the war and was employed at the Watertown Arsenal for the war effort. She was employed by New England Telephone Company, later working in retail on the South Shore. She especially enjoyed arts and crafts. She made a hand-hooked rug in the 1960’s and won first prize and a blue ribbon in the Marshfield Fair for her entry. She loved sewing, decorating her home and traveling to Florida with her “Tommy” as ‘snowbirds’ for the winter. She loved biking on Cape Cod, ballroom dancing, and was an avid Red Sox fan. She frequently attended games at Fenway Park. She also enjoyed sailing in Wychmere Harbor on her sailboat, ‘Summer Girl.’ She was a parishioner at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Harwich.
Gerry was especially loved and admired by her five children, seven grandchildren, eight month-old great-grandson, friends and neighbors. Her spouse, Tommy, described her as a “sweet old-fashioned girl” and her children described her as a “wonderful Mom.” Her five surviving children are: Jeanne M. (Hagerty) Trask and her spouse, Peter, of Rhode Island, Maryland and Nebraska; Kathleen A. Hagerty of Abington, MA; Thomas M. Hagerty and Carol Kolenik of Belmont, MA; Jack Hagerty and his wife Holly of Pocasset, MA; and Patricia (Hagerty) Diamond and her husband Michael of Martha’s Vineyard. “Nana” is survived by her seven wonderful grandchildren and one great grandson of whom she was so proud; Andrew Trask and his wife, Christine, of Washington DC; Christopher Trask and his wife, Jessica, of Rutherford, NJ; Michael J. Hagerty of Sandwich, MA; Kendra (Trask) Wilson and her husband, Robert, of Waltham, MA; William Diamond and Emily Diamond of Martha’s Vineyard; Michaela Hagerty of Boston, MA; and her great-grandson, Felix Trask of Washington DC. Her grandchildren loved her bright blue eyes and her sweet unspoiled disposition. She is predeceased by two children, Deborah Hagerty and Michael J. Hagerty; two sisters, Evelyn (Murray) Lane, Frances (Murray) Carter; and one brother, Robert Murray. Visitation is at Dockray and Thomas Funeral Home, 455 Washington Street, Canton, MA on Sunday Dec. 12th, 2010 from 4-7pm. The funeral is from the Dockray and Thomas Funeral Home Monday morning at 9am, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at Saint Gerard Majella Church, 1860 Washington St., Canton, MA at 10am. Interment is at Knollwood Memorial Park Canton. Donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.