Luisa McCarthy

"She was one of seven, and the first one to Heaven"

Luisa passed into eternal rest after battling cancer with dignity and courage. She was surrounded by many family members and her beloved children, while listening to Elton John, Mariza and The Eagles.

In 1967Antonio and Ana Maria Dias arrived in the US with Luisa, the youngest of seven children. Wanting something better for their children, they brought their family to Ludlow, MA from their small town in northern Portugal. With love, ambition and hard work, the family prospered. Luisa's success based on values taught to her by her parents can best be described as having achieved the "American Dream". She was bestowed by the Creator with boundless energy, tremendous ability and remarkable beauty. Her powerful personality was clearly evident upon meeting her. She was a tireless self-made professional who rose from menial vocations to the position of an insurance executive. Her devotion to family and many friends can only be surpassed by her devotion to her children, Brandon and Meagan. Most recently she beamed with pride and joy enjoying her too grandchildren Blakely and Bennett.

Luisa thrived with adventure and was a problem solver easily able to overcome challenges. She was a courageous entrepreneur who enjoyed developing projects. Most recently she helped her son and his partner Jocylyn design, build and complete a home construction. 

Luisa traveled to her native Portugal as well as many other destinations far and wide with her committed fiance Joao Franco. She particularly enjoyed cruises with her children. Since embarking on early retirement she also turned her attentions to those she loved the most, calling it her greatest success. 

Luisa will leave an irreplaceable void to everyone she knew, and she leaves many who loved her dearly, her son Brandon McCarthy, daughter Meagan Wegiel and son-in-law Jason Wegiel; Grandchildren Blakely and Bennett Wegiel; brothers Armenio, John and Tony Dias; Sisters Ines Malaquias, Fatima Gomes and Betsy Correia and their respective families. She also leaves many loving nieces and nephews in the US and Portugal, and an ex-husband Bart McCarthy. Luisa's fierce devotion to family, love, honor and high professional achievement will be her enduring legacy to all who were lucky enough to have known her. 

There will be a Memorial Visitation from 9-11 on Saturday at Wilbraham Funeral Home, followed by a Memorial Mass at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Ludlow at noon.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Luisa's name to Dana Farber Cancer Institute or Our Lady of Fatima Church, Ludlow, MA.