Marie Barbara (Arsenault) McCarthy

Note: This is the original version I wrote in 2020 after my nana passed. Much of it was changed in the final version shared publicly at the time. I wanted to preserve and share this one here, as I wrote it, in her honor.

Marie Barbara (Arsenault) McCarthy
June 27, 1923 – April 28, 2020

Marie Barbara McCarthy of Revere, Massachusetts, passed from this life on Tuesday, April 28th, 2020, of natural causes.

She was the beloved wife of the late John J. McCarthy Jr., and devoted mother to three children: John McCarthy, Janice (McCarthy) Tagan, and Beverly McCarthy. She was a proud grandmother to seven grandchildren and a great-grandmother to twelve children.

Marie and her husband John shared a true love story—meeting at a dance pavilion on Revere Beach and marrying while he was on leave during World War II. They bought a home in Revere, where they raised their family and nurtured generations to come.

She was a young, faithful widow, a devoted mother, and an independent working woman ahead of her time. Marie was a dedicated Catholic who prayed her rosary twice daily and exemplified love, strength, and moral dignity.

She had many dear friends and enjoyed traveling to sunny islands, bowling on Friday nights, and being a pillar of her community. She was involved in various groups, including the drum corps IC Reveries and the Catholic Daughters. Many in Revere knew her from working at the local pharmacy, where she was always available for a warm conversation and known as a compassionate listener.

Marie will be deeply missed by her family, who will always remember her presence at countless graduations, weddings, holidays, and family vacations. She leaves behind a miraculous lifetime of beautiful memories and lasting inspiration in the hearts of those who loved her most.