Mildred N. McCarthy

Mildred "Millie" (Nadeau) McCarthy passed away peacefully on May 17th, 2025, at Seacoast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at the age of 97. She was born Mildred Nadeau on July 24th, 1927, in Caribou, Maine. She was the devoted wife of the late William A. "Bill" McCarthy and the beloved mother of William J. McCarthy and Janice (McCarthy) Costa.
Millie grew up on a beautiful hilltop family farm on Soucy Hill near Winterville, Maine. A child of the Great Depression, Millie was educated in a one room schoolhouse and graduated from Presque Isle High School. After graduation, she ventured south to attend and graduate from the Massachusetts School of Physiotherapy in Boston in 1946. Her first job was at Fairfield Hills Hospital in Newtown, Connecticut.
After graduating, Millie came to Gloucester to work at the Magnolia Manor Health Resort where she met her future husband Bill while standing at the bus stop.
Those who knew Millie will remember her for her kind, loving, and friendly nature. She enjoyed gardening and maintaining a beautiful yard. Millie was an avid reader, had a passion for solving puzzles and was known to enjoy a good game of cards and cribbage. Her greatest enjoyment was spending time with her children and grandchildren.
As a couple, Millie and Bill were active in supporting and fundraising for the Magnolia Mission Chapel (Saint Joseph's). Millie and her team of volunteers would prepare and serve upwards of 160 barbeque chicken dinners with her famous barbeque sauce. They were also active in the Magnolia Lions Club and many other charitable organizations. A devout catholic, Millie was a strong supporter of St. Ann's Parish.
Millie shared a passion for politics with her husband and was active in political organizations and campaigns back in a time when politics was fun. Together they would open their home to host monthly meetings, and large backyard cookouts. In 1968, they were elected as delegates to the Republican National Convention in Miami. Millie and Bill also hosted Ronald Reagan at a dinner they sponsored for the Essex Club. Millie was proud of Bill's service to his country and actively participated and attended veteran's reunions of the 12th Armored Division (WWII).
Although volunteering was a big part of her life, nothing was more important to Millie than family. Holidays were a magical time for Millie and she was the heart of every Christmas, Thanksgiving, Fourth of July and Easter. She made every holiday unforgettable, and these moments have left a lasting imprint on her children and grandchildren and the importance of family.
Millie was the core of our family, a steady, loving, and strong presence who kept us all together. You always left the time you spent with Millie feeling better about yourself and being a better person because of her life's lessons. She will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved her.
Millie is survived by her son William J. McCarthy and her daughter and son-in-law Janice (McCarthy) Costa and Ted Costa, and grandchildren Sophia Costa, Jenna Costa, Aaron Costa, and Brittany Taylor, and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband William A. "Bill" McCarthy, her parents Ernest and Mamie (Soucy) Nadeau, her sisters Rella Daniels, Lydia Brown, Teresa Morneault and her brothers Joseph, Edgar, George, and Everett Nadeau.
The family would like to thank the staff and residents of Seacoast who took such good care of her and made friendships the last few years.
Visiting hours will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01930.
Her Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, May 23rd, 2025, at Saint Ann's Church – Holy Family Parish on 60 Pleasant Street, Gloucester. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Eastern Avenue in Gloucester.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in her name to Friends of Seacoast, P.O. Box 1578, Gloucester, MA 01930.