Eleanor McGrath

1933 - 2015

Eleanor Doherty McGrath, 82, of Essex died Thursday July 9, 2015. She was stricken suddenly while vacationing in Canada. Although she fought bravely the illness proved too much for her to overcome. Eleanor nee Benevento was born April 7, 1933 in Manchester, Connecticut, the daughter of the late James and Catherine (D'Amico) Benevento. She was educated at Mount St. Joseph Academy and worked at Travelers Insurance, the law firm of Cooney & Scully, and Chandler Evans from which she retired in 1992. She married her beloved Gerald Doherty and they lived in Vernon until his passing in 1996. After Gerald's passing she once again was blessed with love and married John McGrath and lived in Old Lyme until his passing in 2000. Eleanor was a faithful and devoted communicant of Saint Bernard's Church in Rockville. After moving to Old Lyme, she was a daily communicate at Christ the King Church. She was a prayerful member of the "God Squad" and made everyone around her feel special. She had a twinkle in her eye, a warm smile and a fierce determination in life. She will be sadly missed but always remembered by her family, her Best friend Joan, Cousin Sylvia, and her beautiful church community she loved so dearly. She is survived by her Sons, Michael Doherty and his wife Alison of Hebron, Mark Doherty and his wife Carol of Saint Charles, Illinois, and Thomas Doherty of Manchester. Her Grandchildren: Kelly and Dan, Melissa and Josh, Emma, Brian, Peter, and her Great-Grandchildren Michaela and Gavin, her Step-children; John and Eileen McGrath, Gloria and Robert Trombley, and Step-Grandchildren Jackie and Frankie. She was predeceased by her parents and her brother Francis Benevento. Visitation will be held on Friday July 17th from 5-7pm at the Robinson, Wright and Weymer funeral home in Centerbrook. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Christ the King Church, 1 McCurdy Road, in Old Lyme on Saturday, July 18th at 9:00am, followed by burial at St. Bridget's Cemetery in Manchester at 12:30PM. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Christ the King Church in Old Lyme. To share a memory of Eleanor or send a condolence to her family, please visit www.rwwfh.com.