Obituary of Mary Jane (McCormack) Kavanaugh

Mary Jane (McCormack) Kavanaugh, 87 PEABODY – Mary Jane (McCormack) Kavanaugh, 87, beloved wife of 55 years of the late Joseph Kavanaugh, died peacefully on Monday March 12, 2018 at the Care One at Essex Park Skilled Nursing Facility in Beverly, following an extended illness. Born in Peabody, she was the daughter of the late Martin and Anne (Murtagh) McCormack. She graduated from Peabody High School, and was a lifelong resident of the city. Mrs. Kavanaugh worked for a short time as an Operator with New England Telephone, and later helping in administration for Mrs. Alexander’s Nursery School in Beverly, before her passionate devotion to nurturing her family. In her youth, Mary was very active at St. John the Baptist Church in Peabody where she met her husband Joseph. She also helped as a member of the Ladies Sodality for St. Mary’s School in Beverly for a period of time. Having an active mind, she enjoyed reading, traveling to Ireland to visit with family, and was a fan of Irish music and culture. She is survived by her six children, Thomas Kavanaugh of Peabody, Maureen Hilfinger and her husband Robert of Beverly, Anne Marie Kavanaugh-Coggins and her husband Mark of Alexandria, VA, Mary Ellen Percival and her husband Steven of Georgetown, Kathleen Kavanaugh of Farmington, NH, and Kevin Kavanaugh of New York City; 13 grandchildren, Kerianne, Meghan and her husband Chris, Caitlin, Nora, Patrick, Joseph, Erin, Connor, Scott, Isabel, Jared, Kevin, and Kyle; a sister Carol Nash of Dover, NH, a dear cousin Ann Creeden of Danvers, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death, besides her husband and parents, by her brother Martin McCormack and his wife Ann, brother-in-law William Nash, and Kathleen’s husband Ross Schubarth. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather on Friday March 16, 2018 for a Funeral Mass at 11 AM in St. John the Baptist Church, Peabody. A visitation will be held on Thursday from 4 – 8 P.M. in the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody. Cremation will follow the Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the New England Donor Services (Organ Donors), 60 First Ave., Waltham, MA 02451.