Carolyn Julia McCarthy

McCARTHY, Carolyn Julia Swiertz Born Feb. 3, 1933, in Kansas City, KS. Carolyn's spirit was liberated on July 4, 2011, in Westwood, CA. She was preceded in death, in 2002, by her husband, Peter Yorke McCarthy. Carolyn passed away peacefully following a valiant effort against cancer. Pete and Carolyn raised eight children, mostly in one much-loved house: Sharon Keithley (Grizz Bowen); Chris (Denise) McCarthy; Colleen (Ray) McCarthy-Evans; Kathleen McCarthy; Maura (Jaipech) Sakhakorn; Teresa (Jim) Cotner; Monica (Robin Soper) McCarthy; and Brian (Mary) McCarthy. They are survived by 11 grandchildren: Kyle, Kelsey and Sean McCarthy; Spencer and Dylan Evans; Supanna, Navin, and Kashane Sakhakorn; Maude and Ray Soper; and Caitlin McCarthy. Carolyn loved her family to the depth of her being. She is also survived by her sister Liz (Lee) Newman; her brother Ray B. Swiertz, Jr.; her sisters-in-law Patricia McGarry and Mary McCarthy; her uncle Larry (Del) Saldecke; her close cousin Richard Wyszynski, and many dear cousins, nephews, nieces, and long-time friends. During her last breaths, she was surrounded by her loving family, including all of her children (two by speaker-phone), her sister, and other dear presences. Carolyn is a proud graduate of L.A. High School and UCLA. She was an accomplished poet. This is Carolyn, in her own words. "Always was a Wizard of written words. Introverted munchkin, otherwise. Cowardly lioness. Expatriated Oz, KansOz for Los AngelOz. Poetic emphasis. Baptism of Print, A.A., B.A., Mrs. degrees, U.C.L.A. era. Afterwards, laborious: mothering eight, grandmawing eleven. Miniaturist: dollhouses, roomboxes, angels, toys, numerous wooden misc. Same Spouse. Same house. Macintosh mouse. Librarious excesses. Compulsive. Recovering. Quickening electronics, Internet beckoning, Social inSecurities. Printery acceptances, awards @ writers conferences. Reckonings under thumbs parental, ecclesiastical, educational, legal, espousal, familial, yet not thumbing noses at grow-wings like these. Thumbing ride to S.B.W.C. Hello, Yellow Brick Road!" by Carolyn Swiertz McCarthy. Your presence at the service, prayers, flowers, contributions to your favorite charity - the McCarthys think Carolyn would appreciate any of those, equally. Services will be held Saturday, July 9th, at Cathedral Chapel Church, 923 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles. Rosary at 1:30, funeral Mass, celebrated by her nephew, Reverend John McGarry, SJ, at 2:00 p.m. If you have any questions please call 310.980.8176.