Margaret Anne “Peg” (Furlong) McCarthy, 85, of Southborough, died peacefully Thursday, May 1, 2025, at her home surrounded by her family.
Peg was predeceased by her parents Thomas and Olivine (Lapine) Furlong.
She was the devoted wife of and is survived by her husband of 64 years Thomas McCarthy.
She is survived by her daughters:
Marcia and her husband Tom Waldron of Mattapoisett and their children Thomas and Liam.
Her daughter Kathleen Levine of Marion, MA and her children Owen (Leigh Ann) and Liam (Ashley) McConnell and their father Robert McConnell, and Olivia, Charlotte and Sophie Levine and their father Peter Levine. She was also blessed with one great grandchild-Rowen McConnell.
Her daughter Bridget and her husband James Drewry of Franklin, MA and their children Margaret and Alice Drewry.
Peg is also survived by her brother Thomas N. “Nick” Furlong and her favorite sister in law, Cathy, of East Walpole, MA and their two sons Samuel and Thomas Furlong.
Peg was born on June 16th 1939, the day before Bunker Hill Day, much to the delight of her father’s family who were Charlestown “Townies” and fishermen. Her grandmother’s family, the Sawyers, traced their lineage back to Thomas Hinckley, the last Governor of Plymouth Colony.
She was raised in the Oak Square neighborhood of Brighton and was educated by the Notre Dame Nuns whom she greatly admired. After graduating from Our Lady of the Presentation High School she worked as a bookkeeper.
She married Tom McCarthy, a fellow Oak Square resident, on August 13th, 1960, after a courtship which was initiated by Tom complimenting her hat after Sunday Mass.
The early years of their marriage saw them stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, where their eldest daughter, Marcia was born.
Peg and Tom then moved back to Massachusetts where they completed their family with the addition of Kathleen and Bridget. 10 happy years were spent by the ocean in Marion, before they settled in what was to become their forever home, Southborough, in 1974. Always mindful of the importance of family, the move to Southborough meant Peg and her young family now lived down the street from her beloved parents and aunts and uncles.
Once settled in Southborough, Peg showed her diverse and creative talents by becoming involved in many civic, philanthropic and community groups. She surprised many by becoming a Town of Southborough auxiliary police officer and EMT. She later served as President of the Friends of the Library and Southborough Gardeners.
Because of her generous and gregarious personality, Peg developed lifelong friendships with her Latisquama Road neighbors and fellow Garden Club Members. In recent years she enjoyed playing Pitch with her “Card Friends” several times a week at Colonial Gardens
Peg was a busy person, yet her main focus was always the education and well-being of her daughters. She shared her love of God, Country, Nature, reading and fashion with the girls and was always willing to impart her motherly wisdom on various subjects including: fashion notes for Emergency Room visits, how to hide from your husband and what to cook for family gatherings.
She celebrated all holidays but by far her favorites were Thanksgiving, Christmas and The Fourth of July. For her McCarthy nieces and nephew, Aunt Peggy’s Thanksgiving set a standard of cuisine and conviviality to which they all still aspire and remember fondly.
Preparations for Christmas began early, usually in July, and these joyous occasions with the Furlongs featured flowing champagne, chilled oysters and a “secret” caviar pate mousse.
July Fourth was typically celebrated by the ocean in either Marion or Mattapoisett. One of Peg’s most treasured gifts was a Patriotic candle she received from her then 9 year old grandson Liam McConnell. She was very proud of the military service of both of her nephews, Sam and Tommy Furlong and grandson Liam.
The one accomplishment she insisted be included in her obituary was that she had saved three children from drowning, one of whom was her eldest grandchild…Owen.
Peg lived a full and happy life. She was one of a kind and will be greatly missed.
Her family would like to acknowledge the wonderful care she received from her home health-aid Alessandra Dovale of Senior Helpers and the hospice nurses from MetroWest Hospice.
Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, from 9:30-10:30AM at the Morris-Johnston Funeral Home, 40 Main St., Southborough, MA 01772. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 11:00AM at St. Anne Church, 20 Boston Rd., Southborough, MA. Burial will follow in Southborough Rural Cemetery, 11 Cordaville Rd., Southborough, MA
(Photo and Obituary via Morris-Johnston Funeral Home)
