…mother of 11, at age 96
TEWKSBURY - Ethel M. (McLeod) (McCarthy) McNamara, age 96, the matriarch of a large, well known family, died Friday morning, July 7, at D’Youville Senior Care Center in Lowell surrounded by her loving and caring children. She was the beloved wife of the late Richard J. McNamara Jr., and previously the late Joseph McCarthy
Ethel was born in Boston on November 2, 1920, a daughter of the late Frank and Mary (Magee) McLeod. She was raised and educated in South Boston. Ethel worked in the family store in Andrew Square, the U.S. Post Office at South Postal Annex, and several positions in the Arlington School System.
Religion was an important aspect of Ethel’s life. She was a CCD teacher at St. James Catholic Church in Arlington, a Eucharistic minister in Florida, a member of St. Williams Blessed Virgin Mary Sodality in Tewksbury, and Ethel was a Communicant at St. Dorothy Church in Wilmington.
Ethel was a strong example of faith, love and family to her 11 children, 32 grandchildren, and 32 great-grandchildren.
She leaves her 11 children and their spouses: Marie and the late Roger Neal, Kathleen and Robert Lane, all of Tewksbury, Joanne and Edward Kearns, of Tewksbury, with whom she had resided since 2005, the late Richard J. McNamara III of GA, Arlene and the late Arthur Stratton of Merrimack, NH, Frank McNamara of Woburn, Teresa and John O’Neill of Tewksbury, Sheila and Dave Albanese of Hudson, NH, Stephen and Emily McNamara of Center Sandwich, NH, Michael and Cyndi McNamara of North Andover, and William and Marianne McNamara of Harvard. She was sister to Lorraine and Paul Flanagan of Hingham, Joseph and Patricia McLeod of Tewksbury and the late Frank, Paul, Edward, Richard and John McLeod; and leaves many nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours Tuesday, July 11, from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. in the Tewksbury Funeral Home, corner of 1 Dewey and 975 Main Sts. (Rte. 38) TEWKSBURY CENTER, Ph. (800 in MA or 978) 851 2950. Her funeral will begin Wednesday, July 12, at 9:00 a.m. from the funeral home followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. in St. William’s Church, 1351 Main St. (Rte. 38) Tewksbury. Burial will be in St. Mary Cemetery, No. Tewksbury. In lieu of flowers, donations to: The Guest House, 1601 Josly Rd., Lake Orion, MI 48360 or Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Attn: Leonore Coan, 30 Jeffrey Neck Rd., Ipswich, MA 01938, will be appreciated. tewksburyfuneralhome.com