John J. McCarthy

John J. McCarthy

A Funeral Mass will be held

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Instate 10:30am       Mass 11:30am

St. Edith Catholic Church

15089 Newburgh Road, Livonia, Michigan 48154

For the safety of their family and friends, the family of Mr. John McCarthy requests that all visitors wear facial masks.

Interment will take place

12:30pm

Thursday, May 25, 2023

Great Lakes National Cemetery

4200 Belford Road

Holly, Michigan 48442

John J. McCarthy was born in Ireland in 1927 to John and Brigid McCarthy.  He was the first-born son and grew up on the family farm with 2 sisters, Mary and Bridie and 4 brothers Matt, Jim, Frank, and Mike.

At the age of 22, John left his family and the farm to immigrate to the United States.  He lived with his Uncle Dan and Aunt Margaret Murphy and his four cousins.  His first job was with Chevrolet. Little did John know a short year and a half after he arrived in America, he’d be asked to fulfill his oath to bear arms for his adopted country, and was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1951.  He was stationed as a rifleman in Germany during the Korean War.  He served in active duty and the reserves from 1951-1957 and finally became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1961.

John met the long love of his life Mary in 1955.  They married in 1958 and celebrated almost 64 years of marriage.  They made their home in Livonia for over 50 years. They were blessed with three daughters, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. 

John worked for Michigan Consolidated Gas Company for forty years as a serviceman and he was always willing to help a friend or neighbor on his own time, with a ready smile.  John was loved by so many family and friends and well-known for telling a good story with a twinkle in his eye.  He could pick up the accordion and play by ear. He could carry a tune and dance. His household of girls named him the best waltzer ever.  He loved listening to Tiger baseball on the radio. Summer weekends were spent traveling to his daughters’ Irish step dancing competitions.  He was so proud of his girls. He never tired of the outdoors enjoying his later days relaxing in the sun.

John is survived by his loving wife Mary, his three daughters Anne (William) Murray, Geraldine (Kevin) Dillon and Colleen (John) Janosik, his grandchildren Katherine (Hunter) Blue, Allison Murray (engaged to Weston Kightlinger), Lauren (Kyle) Duch, Ian Murray, Julia (Manuel) Sanchez, McKenzy (Nick) Naife, Aidan Janosik, and his precious great-grandchildren Elizabeth, Ryan, Connor, Brooks and Gwyneth.

“Farewell today, Travel on now, Be on your way, Can’t bear the very thought, That we, that we could keep your majesty, Be on your way, Make ready for the last King of May, Make a hole in the crowd for him, Raise your voices up, Drink your loving cups, To his long life, To his long life, Make ready for the last King of May, Make a hole in the sky for him , And raise your voices up, Lift your loving cups, to his long life, His long life, And raise your voices up, Lift your loving cups, To his long life”  Merchant, Natalie.  “King of May”

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