Richard McCarthy, 79, of Billerica, died after a courageous battle with kidney disease.
Richard was born in Berlin, New Hampshire in 1944 to the late George and Betty (Cote) McCarthy and spent his grammar school years there before the family relocated to the Charlestown section of Boston. Richard graduated from Charlestown High School in 1962, where he lettered in basketball and baseball.
After graduation he went to work for the Kellogg Corporation, where he worked for 32 years before retiring in 2006. He also served his country in the Army/National Guard for 6 years. Richard was a long time resident of Billerica, where he coached for several years in Little League baseball and in the P.A.L. basketball league. He greatly enjoyed golfing, playing cards, going on family vacations to Newfound Lake and Maine, and was a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees and New York Giants. He also was a devoted father to two children and husband to Carol, his high school sweetheart.
Richard was preceded in death by his sister Joanne O’Keefe, and is survived by 4 other sisters: Lorainne O’Keefe, Eileen Beals, Linda McCarthy and Susan Deleo, and one brother, George McCarthy and his wife Maureen. He also is survived by his wife of 56 years, Carol (Irgens) McCarthy, as well as daughter Lynn of Stoneham and son Michael of Chelmsford. Richard was also close to his in-laws, Robert Irgens and his wife Rona, and Daniel Irgens and his wife Patricia, as well as late sister-in-law, Janice Bekkenhuis. He is also survived by he and Carol’s longtime friends Donna and Jimmy McLaughlin and Carol and David McBride.
Visiting hours will be held at the Sweeney Memorial Funeral Home, 66 Concord Road, Billerica on Sunday, November 12, 2023 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Matthew the Evangelist Parish at St. Theresa Church, 466 Boston Rd., Billerica at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 13, 2023. Family and friends are cordially invited to join the family after the Mass at the Billerica Country Club, 51 Baldwin Rd, Billerica. Donations to the American Diabetes Association would be appreciated.
Previous Events
Visitation
12
Nov
66 Concord Road
Billerica, MA 01821
Funeral Mass
13
Nov
466 Boston Rd.
Billerica, MA 01821
