Phyllis M. (Donovan) McCarthy

Phyllis M. (Donovan) McCarthy

Of Oak Square, Brighton June 22, 2025

Devoted daughter of the late Bernard L. and Sabina E. (Healey) Donovan. 

Beloved wife of the late Paul N. McCarthy.

Devoted mother of MaryEllen White and her husband Joseph of Needham, Janet Murray and her husband Joseph of Bedford, NH, Paul N. McCarthy Jr. and his wife Laurie of Narragansett, RI, Bernadette McCarthy of Brighton, and the late Michael R. McCarthy.

Loving sister of the late Bernard Donovan, Mary Morra, Frederick Donovan, and Rita Mullen.

Dear grandmother of Paul McCarthy III, Albert McCarthy and his wife Holly, Timothy, Johanna and Michael White, William, Elizabeth, and Katherine Murray. 

Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Phyllis was a devout Catholic who devoted herself to her faith and family. She was a lifelong parishioner of Our Lady of Presentation Church in Brighton and a past member and former treasurer of the OLP Sodality. Phyllis lived her entire life in Brighton surrounded by family. For over 60 years, every Christmas Eve she held an eagerly anticipated open house which overflowed with family and friends. Phyllis was a long-time member of “Club”, a monthly social gathering of her friends from high school days at Our Lady of the Presentation Academy. She was an avid reader and a frequent visitor to the Faneuil Branch Library in Oak Square. Phyllis enjoyed water aerobics at the YMCA in Oak Square not only for the exercise but for the chance to socialize with the wonderful friends she made in her classes. In her younger years, she enjoyed bike riding along the Charles River, playing tennis, and dancing with her husband. Phyllis loved the beach and always looked forward to going to Chatham on Cape Cod in the summer where she would socialize with her many “beach gal friends”, swim, read, and host family. 

As a young woman, Phyllis worked for Columbia Pictures in Boston and later as Ark-Les Switch Corp in Watertown. After her youngest children reached school-age, she was employed at Boston College working for 15 years in the admissions office. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Phyllis may be made to the Newton Athletes Unlimited, PO Box 66163, Newton, MA 02466, which provides year-round recreation programs to children and adults with disabilities. 

Funeral from the Lehman Reen & McNamara Funeral Home 63 Chestnut Hill Ave Brighton on Monday June 30th at 9:30am.  Followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Columbkille Church 321 Market St Brighton at 10:30am.  Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend.  Interment St. Joseph Cemetery, West Roxbury.  Visiting Hours on Sunday June 29th from 3-7pm in the funeral home.

For directions and guest book please visit www.lehmanreen.com

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