MERRIMAC: Matthew James McCarthy, 17, died unexpectedly, Tuesday, December 29, 2009 in the Merrimack Valley Hospital.
Born in Methuen on March 10, 1992, he was the beloved son of James P. and Jolanta L. (Goral) McCarthy. Matt was a senior at the Pentucket Regional High School in West Newbury, where he was the captain of the Sachems hockey team.
Matt was larger than life and that was never more evident than when he played hockey. He has touched many people's lives in the short time he has been with us. Since he was six years old, he had a love for the game and lived to play. His family has many fond memories of watching him and supporting him since he was a young boy.
When he wasn't playing hockey, he was working as a referee at the Valley Forum and also as a dishwasher at Michael's Function Hall and as a "maintenance helper" for the NELL Corporation.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his two brothers, Ryan P. McCarthy, a sophomore at Pentucket Regional High School and Nathan A. McCarthy, a 4th grade student at Sacred Hearts School; his maternal grandparents, Sylvester and Helen Goral; his aunts and uncles, Joseph and Hannah Brigandi, Derek and Lillian Goral, Daniel Goral and Mary and Mark Otis; his cousins, P.F.C. Michael J. Brigandi, U.S.M.C., Nicole C. Brigandi, Wyatt Goral, James A. Bucuzzo and Alexandria B. Otis. He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, James and Frances McCarthy. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him, especially his girlfriend, Nicollette Michaels and his many family members and close friends.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday in the Sacred Hearts Church, S. Main Street, Bradford, at 12:00 noon. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday in the Linnehan-Grondin Funeral Home, 129 Kenoza Avenue, Haverhill from 2 - 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the "Matthew J. McCarthy Fund" c/o Georgetown Savings Bank, 2 East Main St., Georgetown, MA 01833. Interment will be held in St. James Cemetery, Haverhill.