Elizabeth Clare McCarthy

Obituary of Elizabeth Clare McCarthy
Elizabeth Clare McCarthy (nee McCann), 94, of New York City, passed peacefully away on June 30, 2025.
She was born on March 20, 1931, in New York City, to Helen Clare (McCauley) and Patrick Joseph McCann, and grew up on Beach 143rd Street in Neponsit, Queens, with her brothers David and Peter McCann.
Elizabeth was a loving wife, beloved aunt, and a great friend. She brought much joy, laughter and compassion into so many lives. Elizabeth made the world a better place and she will be missed by those who were lucky enough to have known her and loved her.
She is survived by her nephews and nieces, including Peter McCann (Kristine) and Anthony McCann (Mary), both of Huntington, Long Island; Ellen Kimura (Philip), of Hockessin, DE; Cathleen McCann and Caroline Goldstein (Scott), both of Wimette, IL; Claire Khadakkar (Neeraj) of Boulder, CO; and Elizabeth McCann (David Montero) of Newport, RI; as well as many great-nephews and great-nieces; and her sisters-in-law Carol McCann (David) of Huntington, LI, and Carol McCann (Peter) of Wilmette, IL.
Elizabeth met her husband Maurice Joseph McCarthy, of Birkenhead, UK, an electrical designer who served in the Royal Engineers of the British Army during World War II, in Bay Head, N.J., and they spent 26 years together, living in Summit, New Jersey, and enjoying summers on the Jersey Shore, winters in Florida, and traveling, playing tennis, bridge, and entertaining at home. Sadly her beloved Maurice predeceased her, as did her parents and brothers David and Peter.
Elizabeth graduated from St. Agnes Seminary and St. Joseph's College in Brooklyn, and followed in her mother Helen's footsteps, becoming an educator. She obtained her MS in Education from Brooklyn College in 1961, and from there, began her career, first as an English teacher at John Adams High School in Queens, and then, after graduating from the Graduate School of NYU, as a guidance counselor at Washington Irving High School in Manhattan. Her students always knew where to go for help through whatever they were struggling with and for a great cup of tea.
Her Catholic faith was a guiding light throughout her life, and she participated in the Ladies of Charity in NYC for many years, also following in her mother's footsteps. She was a longtime member of the Women's National Republican Club in NYC. Elizabeth was very proud of her Irish heritage and loved celebrating St. Patrick's Day and enjoying any McCarthy's pub she came across in her travels.
Her family are so grateful and fortunate that she had so many wonderful caregivers over the last few years that brought so much love and comfort to Elizabeth. They have been as close to angels as humanly possible.
The ease with which Elizabeth made friends, her adventurous spirit, and her kind-heartedness continues to serve as an example to her family and countless friends.