Rosemary L. (Forde) McGrath of Chelmsford, MA

Rosemary L. (Forde) McGrath, 84, of N. Chelmsford died Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at Lowell General Hospital.

She was the wife of Joseph P. McGrath whom she married on July 4, 1963.

She was born in Reading Berkshire England in 1939 the daughter of the late Martin Forde and Una (McLoughlin) Forde of Gort County Galway, Ireland.  After the outbreak of WWII in England, at the age of 3 years she returned with her parents to Ireland.

She attended grammar school in Derrybrien County Galway and St. Joseph’s Secondary School in Gort County Galway.

She immigrated to the United States in 1962 and became an American Citizen in 1966. She was a graduate of Middlesex College and worked in the medical field.  She retired from Lowell General Hospital in 1999.

Mrs. McGrath was a communicant of St. John the Evangelist Church in N. Chelmsford, MA, where she was a Eucharist Minister and choir member for many years.  She was a volunteer for Hospice of Greater Lowell and a past member of the Irish American Club in Billerica and the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians.  She loved to go on cruises with her husband and also enjoyed the beaches near their winter home in Florida.  Her greatest joy was traveling back to Ireland to visit so many of her beloved cousins.  She enjoyed getting together with her family and friends at her home.

Besides her husband she is survived by her son, Michael McGrath and his wife, Cheryl (MacDougall) McGrath of Wells, ME, two granddaughters, Kelsey McGrath and Kaleigh McGrath of Wells, ME and son, David McGrath of Bothell, WA.

She was the sister of the late Thomas Forde of Monmouth, Wales.  She leaves a sister, Ita Siddiqi of Peterborough, England, a brother-in-law, James Normandin of Lowell, a niece, Yasmin Johnston of FL, a nephew, David Siddiqi of Frankfurt, Germany and Captain Matthew Forde of the Welsh Guards, Monmouth Wales as well as many nieces and nephews. She leaves behind a very special cousin, Marian Rafferty of Drogheda Co. Louth, Ireland and her family.  She also leaves two sisters-in-law, Dorothy (McGrath) Evans and Jane (McGrath) Ayers and her husband, Arthur Ayers.

Rosemary was the sister-in-law of the late Catherine (McGrath) Normandin, the late Mary (McGrath) Parzia and the late Richard Evans.

FUNERAL NOTICE

McGrath, Rosemary L. (Forde) McGrath of N. Chelmsford died December 6, 2023. Visiting hours Monday 4 to 7 P.M. Funeral Tuesday at 10AM from the DOLAN FUNERAL HOME, 106 MIDDLESEX ST. CHELMSFORD, with a funeral Mass at 11AM at St. John the Evangelist Church in N. Chelmsford. Burial in the Fairview Cemetery, Chelmsford.  Memorials may be made in Rosemary’s name and remembrance of Mary Rita McGrath-Parziale to the Alternative House at https://www.alternative-house.org/get-involved. ARRANGEMENTS BY DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 978-251-4041. Guestbook at www.dolanfuneralhome.com