Marion L. McGann

1926 - 2022

McGANN

MARION L. McGANN

Marion L. McGann (age 96) born in Waltham, MA on April 15,1926; died peacefully of natural causes on December 23, 2022 at the Adler Center in Aldie, VA after a brief illness.



Marion was the first born child of the late Robert and Emily Hanlon. Her siblings Robert Hanlon, Jr and Marilyn O'Leary predeceased her and she missed their company greatly.



She was the beloved wife to the late Francis McGann, and devoted and generous mother to Martin, Robert and Mary McGann. She was an adoring grandmother to Jackie Lamb and loving mother-in-law to Gerry Lamb. She was a loving sister-in-law to Ann Hanlon and a wonderful aunt to many nieces and nephews.



Graduate of Our Lady Help of Christians High School in Newton, MA and graduate at the age of 75, with a Bachelor Degree in Gerontology, from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA. She was part of the Greatest Generation and served her country working in military intelligence during WWII, at Arlington Hall, Arlington, VA. During her time in Virginia, she was invited with her co-workers to an event at the home of Evelyn Walsh McLean, the American heiress and last private owner of the Hope Diamond. While at the event each attendee was allowed to wear the Hope Diamond which was a thrill for her.



After the war she worked at the Dupont Company, in MA, before becoming ill with tuberculosis in 1948. Her illness required her to seek treatment at the Adirondack Cottage Sanitorium, in Saranac Lake, NY. While there she was treated by world renowned physician Dr. E.L. Trudeau. After two years of treatment which entailed sleeping with windows open in thirty degrees below zero temperatures and always having breakfast in bed as part of the "rest cure" she was discharged and deemed cured. She was eternally grateful to the doctor and the medical staff but once home she vowed never to eat breakfast in bed and windows were never opened in cold weather.



In September,1953, she married Francis McGann and became a wife and mother. While fulfilling her roles at home she decided she wanted to pursue a career in real estate. While she juggled taking care of three children, a husband, and managing their property she studied and went to night school to gain her real estate license. She was a success in her new career selling homes in the Brookline and Newton, MA area. She enjoyed her work immensely and was always learning to improve her skills. After decades spent in the real estate business she decided to retire at 75, and moved to Arlington, VA to be close to her children and grandchild. She enjoyed traveling especially in Europe and visited every country she could especially Italy numerous times. She also enjoyed family vacations traveling throughout the United States with her granddaughter who was the light of her life.



Marion was a devout Catholic and her faith sustained her in difficult times. The family is grateful for all the help received from Our Lady Queen of Peace members who were so supportive to her during her illness. Also, all the aides from Goodheart who were so caring to her during these last few years and all the staff from Capital Caring Health who were dedicated to a peaceful transition as one of her final wishes. The family is especially grateful to Dr. Susan Wittig, who was always a caring, compassionate and supportive provider to Marion giving her the best of care for the past twenty years.



As selfless in death as she was in life Marion donated her body to Georgetown University for medical research. She did this because she hoped that the medical studies performed would someday aid those in need of a cure as she had when suffering from tuberculosis.



We will miss her loving ways, her kindness, generosity, laughter, humor and her puns which were legendary earning our loving name for her "Queen of the Puns".



A memorial service will be held later in the Spring. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. Jude's Hospital for Children, Shriners Hospital, Wounded Warriors, and the American Lung Association.