Patricia Kennedy McMahon

Patricia (Kennedy) McMahon, 85, died peacefully and surrounded by her family on November 6th in Durham, North Carolina. Born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, Pat was a daughter of Edward and Mary Elizabeth (MacDonald) Kennedy. She graduated from Cathedral High School, Westfield State College, and Boston University and married Bernard McMahon in 1969. Her career in education spanned forty years, including more than three decades as a teacher and guidance counselor in the Westfield (MA) Public Schools. She loved helping young people as they discovered the world and found pathways to fulfilling lives. After Pat retired in 2001, Pat and Bernie split their time between North Falmouth, MA and Estero, Florida. As they did throughout their lives, they travelled as much as they could and cherished time with beloved friends and family, especially their four grandchildren. Bernard predeceased Pat in 2013, and Pat moved to Durham, North Carolina in 2020.

Patricia will be remembered by her sister Marylynn Clune and brother-in-law Dave Clune of Wilton Connecticut, son Edward (Ted) McMahon and daughter-in-law Grace McMahon of Burlingame, California, Mary Pat McMahon of Durham, grandchildren Jack and Ian of Burlingame, Aster and Maura of Durham, sisters-in-law Ann Craven and Mary Ann McMahon of Lowell, MA, Maura McMahon and partner Frank Llamas of Pt. Charlotte, FL, and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins. Ted, Grace, and Mary Pat are especially grateful to Pat’s son-in-law Ken Templeton of Chapel Hill and to John and Emily Templeton and Betsy and Charlie Martin in Durham for their extraordinary support of Pat during her last years in North Carolina.

A memorial service will be planned on Cape Cod in 2026. Memorial donations in Patricia’s memory can be made to the “Bernard and Patricia McMahon International Scholarship” held at Westfield State University Foundation P.O. Box 1630, Westfield, MA 01086 or on-line at www.westfieldalumni.org/donate