Phyllis O'Hara

1929 - 2023

Phyllis Ann O'Hara of Greenfield, MA passed away April 6, 2023 at home in Greenfield. Born November 26, 1929 in Montague, MA to Phillip and Helene O'Hara. She is predeceased by her husbands Hon. Alan McGuane, Ken Lamorder and Vincent McHugh, her son Martin A. McGuane and her sisters Helene Adams, Rosemary Dunphy and brother John O'Hara.

Phyllis graduated from Greenfield High School in 1947. She was active in the drama club and performed in several plays and musicals. While at Greenfield High School she was known for her beautiful singing voice. She loved music and played the piano. She taught herself to play guitar and sang with the choir at Blessed Sacrament Church for several years. She was an accomplished artist.

She furthered her education by attending Manhattanville College and the Katharine Gibbs School in New York City. She enjoyed her time in New York by attending several Broadway plays and musicals and participated in the choir while at Manhattanville.
She worked for the telephone company prior to her marriage to Allan McGuane.
Once married and raising her family, she became active in local politics and worked on campaigns for John F. Kennedy and Michael Dukakis.
She obtained her RN through the Nursing Program at Greenfield Community College while in her 50's and became an expert in Alzheimer's/Dementia care. She lectured on the subject at various medical conventions and published a book on the subject in 2007, ""Close, But No Cigar"".

She is survived by her brother Peter O'Hara and his wife Ellen of East Providence, RI. Her children Brennan McGuane and his wife Karen of Sunderland, MA, Erin Lynch and her husband Robert of Milton, MA, Colleen McGuane and partner Lincoln Bitar of Spencer, MA and Garrett McGuane and his wife Ellen of Athol, MA.
Her grandchildren Brendan Lynch, Molly Lynch, Rowan McGuane, Emma Knight and Sam Knight.
The family will have a private burial at a later date.