Barbara Anne McGrath

SOUTH YARMOUTH — Barbara Anne (McCleary) McGrath, 78, of South Yarmouth, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009, surrounded by her family, after a brave battle with lung cancer.

Born at Boston City Hospital and raised in Malden, she was the daughter of Clifford A. McCleary and Mary Alice (Spellacy) McCleary. She graduated from Malden Catholic High School in 1947. She worked for Kemper Insurance (Lumberman's Mutual) in Boston from 1947 to 1957. She was a communicant of St. Pius X Church, South Yarmouth.

Barbara was the wife of Edward J. McGrath Jr., who predeceased her in 1988. They were married for 33 years, and lived in Everett and Marblehead before moving to South Yarmouth in 1966.

Barbara is survived by her son, Brian C. McGrath and his wife, Donna, of Yarmouth Port; a granddaughter, Kaitlin (McGrath) Robinson and her husband, David, of Kingston; two grandsons, Sean and Cory McGrath, both of Yarmouthport; her brother, George McCleary and wife, Phyllis, of Wellesley; her sisters-in-law, Nancy Waldo McGrath of Marblehead and Katherine McGrath of New York City; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a sister, Mary D. McCleary, and her best friend of 64 years, Anne T. Lang.

Barbara was above all a devoted mother and grandmother. She will be remembered for her warm heart and sense of humor. She will be missed by her family and many friends, whom she faithfully kept in contact with. She particularly enjoyed using her computer, earning her the affectionate nickname of "Foxiegram," the name she used for e-mail messages.

A special thank you to Barbara's dear neighbors Judy Reynolds and Maryann Chiras, who were devoted to her, and whose love and selfless assistance to Barbara are appreciated beyond words.

Visiting hours will be held on Monday, Jan. 5, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Hallett Funeral Home, 273 Station Avenue, South Yarmouth. A funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 6, at 11 a.m. at St. Pius X Church, Station Avenue, South Yarmouth, followed by burial at the Dennis Village Cemetery, Route 6A, Dennis. If desired, donations may be made to the Yarmouth Fire Dept., 96 Old Main St., South Yarmouth, MA 02664, or to the Davenport-Mugar Cancer Center at Cape Cod Hospital, 27 Park Street, P.O. Box 640, Hyannis, MA 02601.