Obituary of Frances M. (Howard) McCormack

Frances M. (Howard) Mc Cormack, 87, beloved wife of the late Thomas A. McCormack, died Monday December 11, 2006 on her mother’s birthday at the Harborside Health Care Twin Oaks Facility in Danvers. Mrs. McCormack was born November 23, 1919 in East Boston the daughter of the late John C. and F. Bridget (Fothergill) Howard. She was raised in East Boston and graduated from Boston Girls High School Class of 1937. In 1962 she moved to Peabody where she has since resided. Mrs. McCormack began her working career in the late 1930’s as a telephone operator with New England Telephone in East Boston. In 1944, she enlisted in the United States Navy and served as a Seaman First Class and was stationed at Naval Communications Annex, Washington D.C. and the Wave Quarters G, Ships Co., Arlington, VA. Following the War she returned to the New England Telephone and worked in Boston, retiring in 1976 from their Salem office. Mrs. McCormack was a communicant of St. Thomas the Apostle Church Peabody, member of the Catholic Daughters, V.F.W. Amvets Auxiliary Post 2359 both of Danvers, Old Ironsides Waves of Charlestown, American Legion Lillian Jennings Post 243 of Lynn, Portuguese American War Veteran Post #1 of Peabody, Telephone Pioneers of America Sherwin Chapter Middlesex Life #14, the Peabody Council on Aging. She was also a chaperone for the Blue Angels and Chuting Stars Drum & Bugle Corps of Danvers She is survived by 2 daughters and their husbands, Kathleen L. and Carlton L. Story of Rockport, and Frances C. and William Squires of Peabody; 2 sisters, Sr. Regina Howard, R.S.M. of Windham NH and Sr. Anne Howard, S.N.D. of Wakefield; her grandchildren, Thomas and Yvonne Story, Michael Story, and Christine Story all of Rockport, Richard Donnelly Jr. and Joanne Donnelly of Peabody, Kevin and Julie Donnelly of Danvers, William Squires of Wakefield, Joseph Squires of Tampa Fl; 4 great grandchildren, Jordan, Caitlyn and Austin Story of Rockport and Ryan Donnelly of Peabody; 2 sisters-in-law, Virginia Howard of Winthrop and Elinor Howard of Newburyport and several nieces and nephews. Her son Howard T. McCormack and her siblings William, John, Joseph and Edward Howard, Mary Berry and Dorothea Thibault predeceased her. Her funeral will be held on Friday at 10 a.m. from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 20 Church St. (downtown location) Peabody followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. in St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Salem-Peabody line. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours Thursday 4 to 8 p.m. Burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Bishop Fenwick H.S., Howard T. McCormack Scholarship, C/O Sr. Judith Nee S.N.D., 99 Margin St., Peabody MA 01960 or to Harborside Twin Oaks Residence Council, 63 Locust St., Danvers MA 01923.