With profound sadness, we announce the sudden passing of our cherished Mary Jo McGee on September 17, 2023 in Wellesley, MA.
Born in Rochester, NY to Joanna and Emmett McGee, Mary Jo was the seventh of nine children in a close and loving Irish Catholic family. After graduating from St. Agnes High School in Rochester, she attended the University of Texas in Austin.
Mary Jo married Scott Sefton in 1994. They then moved to London for the next five years, living in Chelsea with Mary Jo’s very spoiled dogs Ming Ming and Sissy. They also lived in Houston, Tokyo and New York. Mary Jo was an intrepid traveler and visited 70 countries during her many journeys.
Mary Jo was warm, witty, generous, curious, well read and enthusiastic about everything she did. She closely followed current events and politics, every day reading the New York Times and Washington Post and watching all the local and national news programs. She enjoyed word games like Scrabble, and did a crossword puzzle every day. She loved jokes and funny stories, was always ready with a quip or funny retort and did a mean British accent. For Mary Jo, the glass was not just half full, it was overflowing. It gave her joy to make people happy, and she did so in ways large and small, whether by having a proper English tea at her home for her garden club or by telling a friend about a buzzy new restaurant.
With her beautiful smile, warm voice and contagious laughter, Mary Jo made friends easily and quickly. She enjoyed walking and talking with her friends and was sure to joyfully greet every dog and owner she met. Mary Jo was very involved in the Hills Garden Club of Wellesley and the Kensington Chelsea Women’s Club in London, serving as president of both. She was also active in two book clubs in Wellesley and enjoyed reading and discussing books of all stripes. She enthusiastically followed her local sports teams, whether it be the Boston Bruins, Chelsea Football Club or Houston Astros.
She loved to celebrate and remembered every anniversary and birthday (always with a cake and candles and with Mary Jo leading in the singing of Happy Birthday). Mary Jo was a wonderful hostess and opened her heart and home to her family and friends. She looked forward to having visitors and designed her guest suite in Wellesley to be warm and welcoming, with all the treats and drinks that she knew were her visitors’ personal favorites.
She leaves her husband Scott, her siblings Eileen (Mike Pestorius), Maureen (Jay Bigenwald), Patrick (Irena), John, Terry (Erin) and Peggy and her many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her siblings Kathy (Louis Ferrigno) and Kevin.
A public celebration of Mary Jo’s life will be held on Friday, October 6th at 5:30 pm at the Wellesley Hills Congregational Church at 207 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA. Details regarding a celebration in Rochester will be announced in the near future.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that everyone practice WWMJD – What Would Mary Jo Do? Mary Jo would -- through unexpected acts of kindness -- brighten someone’s day, whether it be a family member, friend or someone she was meeting for the first time. She truly did make the world a better place, and she will be missed by all who knew her.
Rest in peace Mary Jo. You will always be in our hearts.