Mary E. McGarrah

Greenfield, Massachusetts
Mary E. McGarrah of Greenfield, MA passed away on Sunday, December 23, 2018 at the age of 93. A loving mother and wife and devoted friend, Mary was born on February 8, 1925, the only daughter of Christopher and Mary (Sherlock) Sorenson. She lived her entire life in Greenfield, attending Holy Trinity School and graduating in the Class of 1942 from Greenfield High School. After graduation, she worked at Greenfield Tap & Die Company before entering Burbank School of Nursing in Fitchburg, MA to fulfill her dream of becoming a nurse. Upon graduation from Burbank in 1948, Mary started working as a registered nurse at Franklin County Public Hospital.

Mary's life was all about caring for others. As a nurse she took care of patients in the hospital. She met her husband, Bernard (Bernie) when he brought an injured co-worker to the emergency room for treatment. Mary and Bernie were married on August 22, 1953 at Holy Trinity Church in Greenfield. Mary continued working as a nurse after her marriage and the birth of her two daughters. As the family grew, Mary decided to forego her nursing career to care for her family and to help Bernie in the family printing business.

Mary also was a dedicated volunteer supporting Holy Trinity School for many years as a member of the St. Joseph's Guild and as a bingo worker while her four children attended the school.

Family was very important to Mary. In addition to caring for her children, she cared for Bernie's mother who lived with them. She was a devoted daughter to her father and a loving sister to her brothers. Mary also enjoyed meeting and interacting with people. She made friends easily and was a good listener. She had a sly sense of humor that resulted in unexpected comments that made family and friends smile. Mary never let her over 50 years of visual limitations from macular degeneration interfere with living her life to the fullest as a wife, mother, grandmother, good friend and neighbor.

Besides her parents, Mary is predeceased by her husband, Bernie, her son, Michael and her brothers, Hugh and Christopher. She is survived by her children and their spouses: Nancy (Stuart) of Goshen, MA, Marilou (Daniel) of Troy, NH and Patrick (Lisa) of Sturbridge, MA. She also leaves her four granddaughters: Sheila Wood, Meghan Bisaccio, Kerry Spears and her husband, Reid Spears, and Nora Bisaccio and her fiance, Kyle Murray.

A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, December 29, 2018 at 10:00 AM at Blessed Sacrament Church, 211 Federal Street, Greenfield, MA, with Rev. Fr. Timothy J. Campoli, Pastor as the celebrant. Rites of committal will follow in Calvary Cemetery. The McGarrah family will receive guests Saturday morning from 8:45AM prior to the dismissal service at 9:30AM at McCarthy Funeral Homes, 36 Bank Row, Greenfield, MA. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mary can be made to the Perkins School, 175 North Beacon Street, Watertown, MA 02472.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary E. McGarrah, please visit our floral store.