Jean 'Gina' L. McCarthy

NORTH CANAAN — Jean “Ginaâ€� L. McCarthy, 96, died peacefully Feb. 5, 2010, at Geer Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.  Born Jan. 24, 1914, in Sheffield, Mass., she was the daughter of the late Bettina and Eduardo Delmolino. She graduated from Sheffield High School and Bay Path Institute in Springfield, Mass.

In 1936, she married Jim O’Brien of Great Barrington,  where they made their home until his death in 1956. Jean moved to Clearwater, Fla., where she lived until her marriage to Francis McCarthy of North Canaan in 1965.  

Jean was an avid quilter and gardener, who generously gave her time to care for friends and neighbors. She was a talented cook who loved preparing meals for her extended family, and making sure each of her grandchildren had the food they liked best — fresh-squeezed orange juice, homemade apple pie, and especially her world-famous lasagna.

Jean is survived by her son, Phillip O’Brien and his wife, Allison Fichter, of Canton, Ga.; her daughter, Karen O’Brien Kavanagh and her husband, Roger, of New York City; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Jean was predeceased by her husband, Frank McCarthy, and her son, Thomas O’Brien of Clearwater.  

A memorial Mass will be held Saturday, Feb. 20, at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Church in North Canaan. Memorial contributions may be made to the North Canaan Ambulance Corps and North Canaan Volunteer Fire Department.  

Arrangements are under the care of the Newkirk-Palmer Funeral Home in North Canaan.

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