Obituary of Lynne Cynthia McCarthy

It is with great sadness that the family of Lynne Cynthia McCarthy (nee Quilty) announces her passing on December 31st, 2016, surrounded by loving family at Bobby’s Hospice in Saint John. Born in Saint John, on December 3, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Francis and Mary Gertrude (McFadden) Quilty. Lynne was a loving mother, grandmother and wife. She is survived by three sons Paul, Fredericton; John (Stacey), Halifax and Marty (Melanie), Quispamsis; her six grandchildren Michael, Connor, and Shae, (and their mother Colleen Kinch), Benjamin, Halle and Cameron; and her husband Peter Heffernan and his two children (Lisa and Michael) and their children Jessica and Timothy . Lynne is also survived by sisters Connie Hitchcock, Marion (Cyril) Oram, Norma Forbes, sister in law Doreen McCarthy, brother-in-law John Quigg, and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, Lynne was predeceased by her brother Francis J. (Bill) Quilty, her sister Mary Gertrude (Quilty) Quigg, brother-in-law Andrew Forbes and nephew-in-law Mark Lewis and her loving husband of 46 years, Frank McCarthy, who passed away in 2009. Lynne attended Mount Carmel Academy and Notre Dame d’Acadie. She spent most of her working life employed at Moosehead Breweries where she spent the last several years of her career as private secretary to Phillip W. Oland. Lynne will always be remembered as a loving and gregarious soul. Nothing brought her more joy than to be surrounded by large groups of family and friends, laughter and music. There was always room for more in her house and at her table. She had a wide circle of dear friends and cherished family, testament to the life of quality and substance that she lived. Lynne leaned heavily on her very strong Roman Catholic faith throughout her life. She was a devout Catholic, a lifelong member of the Assumption Parish, and practiced her religion with great faith and reverence. She found much solace in the church’s many rituals and sacraments that she held so dear. She faced numerous health battles through the years with great courage, dignity and grace. She bravely fought her first cancer diagnosis in 1984, and God granted her many more years with us. This battle left her, however, with many enduring health struggles over the coming decades, all of which she faced with resolute faith and determination, never complaining, always offering up her suffering. Her recent struggles in the wake of her melanoma diagnosis revealed once again what a strong, faithful woman she was. She fought stoically and with great calm, comforting those around her with assurances that she was fine, as she enjoyed time surrounded by family and friends to the very last, including a very special McCarthy Christmas in her own home. We would like to take this opportunity to extend heartfelt thanks to some special people who helped make our mother’s journey much more bearable for her and for us: Doctors Margot Burnell, Elaine Davies and Chris O’Brien, special care givers Lisa Duplissea and Judy Beal and the caring staff at Bobby’s Hospice. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Castle Fallsview Funeral Home, 309 Lancaster Ave, Saint John (634-1701). Visitation will be on Tuesday January 3rd and Wednesday January 4th from 2 to 4 P.M. and 7 to 9 P.M. each day. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated from Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church on Dufferin Row in Saint John on Thursday January 5th at 12 noon. Interment to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to the Canadian Cancer Society or to the Assumption Church building fund. Online condolences can be made at www.Castlefh.com.