Theresa C. McGrath

Waltham – Mrs. Theresa C. (Doherty) McGrath, of Waltham, died Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Cambridge. She was 87.

Theresa was born in Waltham on December 15, 1925, one of nine children born to the late Bernard and Mary (Fahy) Doherty, and was a lifelong resident. She was a graduate of Saint Mary's High School in Waltham.

After her marriage to Waltham native Gene McGrath she became a dedicated and lifelong homemaker; performing her role as wife, mother, caretaker, peacemaker and healer with unequaled poise and ability.

Whenever someone in the family, in the parish or in the neighborhood needed a helping hand, Theresa always answered their call with compassion in her heart and a smile on her face. She was a Girl Scout leader for many years and was a longtime teacher in the CCD program at Saint Charles Church. She drove cancer patients to their treatments and volunteered limitless hours for the Saint Charles Parish Bazaar. She was also a Eucharistic Minister and brought communion to the sick.

She enjoyed watching her beloved Red Sox and Bruins, sewing and knitting, and was known for her Irish-knit afghans and her many knitted Christmas stockings.

Fondly know as Nana Mac and T-Mac, Theresa will be deeply missed by all.

Her beloved husband of forty-nine years, Eugene J. McGrath, died September 22, 1996.

She leaves her daughters, Beverly Sullivan, Maureen Kiley and her husband, David, Carol LeBlanc and her husband, Camille, and Cheryl Stascavage and her husband, Alan, all of Waltham; her grandchildren, Christine McDevitt, Kate Moriarty and her husband, Michael, Patrick Sullivan, Matthew Kiley, Meghan McDevitt and her fiancé, Michael Berman, Lauren Sullivan and her fiancé, Stephen Gardner, Alison LeBlanc, Michael Kiley, Jeffrey LeBlanc, James Sullivan, Justin Stascavage and Jaclyn Stascavage; her great-granddaughter, Grace Theresa Moriarty; her brothers, Bernard Doherty and his wife, Marguerite, of Waltham, Joseph Doherty and his wife, Pauline, of West Newton and Francis Doherty and his wife, Jean, of Waltham and many nieces and nephews.

Theresa was also the mother of the late Colleen McDevitt; mother-in-law of the late James Sullivan and a sister of the late William Doherty, John Doherty, Mary Dodson, Winifred Doherty and Anne McHugh

Family and friends will honor and remember Theresa's life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20) Waltham on Thursday, April 11th, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Friday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Charles Borromeo Church, 51 Hall Street, 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 Only-A-Child, P.O. Box 990885, Boston, MA 02199 or to Saint Charles Borromeo Church, 30 Taylor Street, Waltham, MA 02453.