Margarita McGrath

McGrath, Margarita
Margarita "Quita" Serrell McGrath passed in peace in Scottsdale, Arizona on April 13, 2013 after a long illness. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, James F. McGrath. Quita was born to the late Dr. Howard P. and Margarita N. Serrell in Greenwich on May 27, 1941. Her daughter, Margarita McGrath of Brooklyn, NY, and her son, Pastor Tyler McGrath of Scottsdale, AZ, as well as her three grandchildren Sydney, Lauren and Ryan survive her. Of her siblings, Quita is survived by her brother, Howard P. Serrell, and her sister, Patricia S. Schmeltzer, both of Greenwich. Her brother, Jonathan D. Serrell, predeceased her in 1985. She was a graduate of the Oldfields School in Glencoe, Maryland. At Oldfields she continued her love of riding horses competing in "jumping" at which she won many trophies. She also played field hockey, and was one of the team's stars. She wanted to follow her father by becoming a surgeon, but instead pursued nursing at the Greenwich Hospital Nursing School. After graduation, she joined Frontier Nursing Service in Kentucky to provide care for the poor in Appalachia. She then returned to the Greenwich Hospital, often working in the same operating room as her father. In 1963 Quita adventured west with her best friend, met her future husband, Jim, and ended up staying. Whether playing competitive tennis, cooking, sewing, traveling, walking or sailing the Sea of Cortez and the West Coast with her family - Quita enjoyed an energetic and enthusiastic life. She was a remarkable and creative mom to her children, as well as their friends, and had fun arranging kidnap birthday parties that ended up in Disneyland, holding Easter Egg hunts on their 21' Santana sailboat "Easy Rudder," and making homemade soup, green chili jelly, and bread. Quita lived a life of service to others, both as a nurse and as a long time mentor for teenagers and their parents at the Scottsdale Bible Church. She leaves a legacy of compassion and generosity of spirit. There will be a memorial service, conducted by her son, Pastor McGrath, on Friday, July 19th at the Round Hill Community Church in Greenwich at 10 am. Friends and family will be invited to share stories to celebrate Quita's life. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the AFTD Postdoctoral Fellowship Fund, Radnor Station Bldg. 2, Suite 320, 290 King of Prussia Road, Radnor, PA 19087 will be appreciated.