Christina M. (Cloonan) McCarthy

Waltham – "Long after we are too big to carry in her arms, a mother carries us in her heart."

For most of her eighty-seven years on this earth Chris McCarthy carried her children in her heart . . . ten who survive her and one other, her Judith, who died at birth.

It's also been said that "God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers." And if you asked any of her kids how she was able to keep up with the feeding, the clothing and the caring about ten children and their armies of friends none could explain it, but all could testify that mom had eyes in the back of her head.

When Christina M. (Cloonan) McCarthy drew her last breath on Sunday, November, 22, 2015 at the Leland Home in Waltham she knew that she was loved and wanted and needed by a family that she cherished.

She was born in Boston on December 19, 1927 and grew up in Watertown where she graduated from Saint Patrick's High School. She was a daughter of the late Michael and Mary (Mullen) Cloonan and the step-daughter of the late Margaret (Naughton) Cloonan. Her only sister, Mary, died when she was in her twenties. The large family of children and grandchildren that Chris called her own fulfilled her life in a way she'd only dreamed of as a child. The richness that she yearned for came with the life and the love and the companionship of those closest to her.

Chris was a devout woman filled with the humility and grace that comes with having the blessings and the challenges of a large Irish family. She had the patience of Job but knew how to dole out discipline when it was warranted. There wasn't much that ever got past her.

She was a longtime parishioner at Our Lady's Church in Waltham where she belonged to the school P.T.O. and was a twenty-six year volunteer at Friday night 'Beano'. Until her retirement she worked as a manager for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Chris lived in Waltham for most of her life before moving to Wayland in 1998. She returned to Waltham this year when she became a resident at Leland.

She leaves her children, John M. McCarthy and his wife, Linda, of Bedford, Kevin C. McCarthy of Lowell, Mary Pat Lowe of Stoughton, Dennis J. McCarthy and his wife, Angel, of Billerica, Ann Marie Feeney and her husband, Frank, of Hingham, Susan M. Brady and her husband, Paul, of Wayland, Jane E. Taranto and her husband, Stephen, of Waltham, Daniel G. McCarthy and his wife, Miriam, of Lowell, Joan C. Cappadona and her husband, Bob, of Waltham, and Eileen McCarthy of Norwood; her grandchildren, Patrick and Connor McCarthy, Charles McCarthy and his wife, Alison, Margaret Nolan and her husband, Erik, Tara Majxner and her husband, Matthew, Matthew and Christina Lowe, Joseph, Andrew, and Joy Marie McCarthy, Colleen, Brendan and Devin Feeney, Leah, Shane and Jake Brady, Johnna and Jacey Taranto, Shannon and Erik McCarthy, Bryanna, Brian, and Bobby Cappadona; her great-grandchildren, Lucy Nolan and twins, Jack and Miles McCarthy; her former husband, Charles McCarthy; her former daughter-in-law, Sheila Caisey McCarthy; her childhood friend, Joann Forkin; and the beloved babysitter of her children, Judy (Doyle) Connell.

Chris was also the grandmother of the late Traves McCarthy.

Family and friends will honor and remember Christina's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Sunday, November 29th from 2 to 7 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Monday morning before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to the Leland Home Activities Fund, 21 Newton Street, Waltham, MA 02453, or Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, 55 Ryder Road, Ossining, NY 10562.

Féadfaidh sí an chuid eile i síocháin . . . May she rest in peace.