Obituary of Phyllis M. (McCarthy) McDonald

Phyllis M. (McCarthy) McDonald, 92, of Peabody formerly of Lynn, wife of Thomas H. McDonald, died on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 at the Radius Health care in Danvers with her family at her side. Mrs. McDonald was born in Lynn on November 13, 1918 daughter of John J. and Anne T. (Maguire) McCarthy. She was raised in Lynn and graduated from Lynn English High School Class of 1937. She pursued her education at Staley College in Boston where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech Therapy in 1941. Mrs. McDonald was employed by the General Electric Company’s Meter and Instrument Division in its personnel and accounting department for 10 years, leaving in 1951 to raise her son. Phyllis traveled extensively throughout Eastern and Western Europe, and South America. A resident of Peabody for 62 years, she had been an active member of St. John the Baptist Church in Peabody, serving as a Eucharistic Minister and a long time member of the Ladies Sodality. Phyllis was also very active in the Massachusetts Federation of Women’s Clubs serving as District Manager, President of the Peabody Woman’s Club, and serving on many State committees including Education and community affairs. In addition to her husband with whom she shared 62 years of marriage, she is survived by her son, Bruce J. McDonald and his companion Ilse J. Peirce of Salem; a grandson, Brendan A. McDonald of Medfield; 2 nephews, John T. White and his wife Kathryn C. of Weymouth, and Philip B. White and his spouse Christopher Lawrence of Quincy. Her funeral will be held on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 10 a.m. from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church, 16 Church St., Peabody. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours are Friday, October 28, 2011 from 5 to 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made in Phyllis’s memory to St. John the Baptist Church, 17R Chestnut St., Peabody, MA 01960. Burial in Oak Grove Cemetery, Peabody.