Elizabeth F. McDevitt

Elizabeth Theresa (Fahey) McDevitt of Lexington Massachusetts passed away peacefully of natural causes on May 15th, 2024. She was 89.
Elizabeth was born in Newton, Massachusetts. She was predeceased by her husband James (Jim) William McDevitt Sr., her father Martin Joseph Fahey and her Mother Winifred (Morgan) Fahey. She was also predeceased by her sisters Winifred Zoeller of St. Louis, Missouri and Virginia Fahey of Natick, Massachusetts and brother Thomas Fahey of Hicksville, New York.
Elizabeth is survived by her son James William McDevitt Jr. and his wife Susan and their children Theresa and James III, of Pepperell Massachusetts, her daughter Maureen Suitter and her husband Rick and their son Blake of Woburn Massachusetts, and her daughter Susan King, her husband Steven and their children Ryan and Audrey of Washington, DC. Additionally, Elizabeth is survived by her grandson Trevor James Brightman, his wife Jamie and their son Winston, as well as Jaimie's son Charlie all of Deerfield, Massachusetts. Also surviving Elizabeth are her sister Barbara and her husband Frank Sanchez of Natick, Massachusetts, her brother Frank Fahey of Milton, Vermont, and brother James and his wife Coletta of Wappinger's Falls, New York.
Elizabeth received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Boston College. She later earned her Master of Business Administration from Boston University while raising three spirited teenagers. She was class Valedictorian and President of her class. As a student Nurse she was known to arrive at the hospital on her day off to "help out" and would end up staying the entire day.
Over her 50-year career Elizabeth worked at several Boston area hospitals and held a number of positions including Emergency Room Nurse and Nurse Manager. Her true passion was as a Neurosurgical Nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. Her dedication to her patients and colleagues was unmatched. She was a long-term member of the Nursing Honor Society Sigma Theta Tau and a published member of the Association of Operating Room Nurses. Even after her passing, Elizabeth's compassion for people did not end. She made the ultimate gift of body donation to Boston University Medical School.
Elizabeth and her loving husband Jim were wed in Newton, Massachusetts and were happily married for sixty years. Following their marriage, Elizabeth and Jim purchased their life- long home in Lexington, Massachusetts where they raised their three children as well as many feline friends.
Elizabeth enjoyed skiing. She met her husband at Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire in the late 1950s and took her children to Cannon for many winter vacations. She was a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club. Elizabeth spent summer vacations in the Lake's Region of New Hampshire with Jim and their children. She enjoyed reading on the dock while Jim fished. She had a great laugh when, one time, Jim fell off the end of the dock fully clothed!
She was an avid reader and was especially interested in the history of Great Britain. She greatly enjoyed the works of British author John le Carre (David John Moore Cornwell) and Jane Austen. For several years Elizabeth was a member of the Lexington Choir and performed in a number of their holiday concerts. She also volunteered at Cary Memorial Library in Lexington.
Elizabeth was a devoted mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren run through the sprinkler in the summer and rough-housing in the living room during many Christmas gatherings. Our mother was a gentle soul. Always available for a hug or just to listen. She was the kind of mother all kids hope for. Her presence will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Elizabeth's name to Doctors Without Borders at Doctors Without Borders USA, P.O. Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD, 21741-5030 or doctorswithoutborders.org.
A Memorial Service will be held Friday May 24 at the Douglass Funeral Home, 51 Worthen Rd. Lexington at 5pm. Visitation immediately prior to the service from 4pm to 5pm. Relatives and friends are kindly invited.