Dot was born on March 22, 1931, the daughter of George Murray Fraser and Florence (Ysebaert), and grew up in Medford, MA. Dot’s father passed away when she was only 5. Her mother Florence raised Dot and her older brother George, with the help of her sister Mary and brother-in-law Bert Balcom.
Dot graduated in 1948 from Medford High School, where she met her lifelong love, Tom McGrath. In later years, she was proud to remind him that she finished near the top of their graduating class, along with Tom who was a Harvard scholarship recipient. Her high school classmates’ sentiment about Dot in her yearbook aptly read “stylish without knowing it, clever without showing it”. After graduation, Dot worked as a secretary to the president of American Mutual Insurance Company in Boston for several years.
She and Tom were married in June of 1953 as he graduated from Harvard and was beginning his service as a lieutenant in the US Navy. Dot and Tom had 6 children in 8 years – bookend girls with 4 boys in between. Her loving care and creative spirit were demonstrated in everything she did to support her family. Dot loved adventure and travel, planning many family camping trips including Cape Cod, Maine, and Florida. The most memorable was a 3-week trip up through Canada to Yellowstone, making stops at Niagara Falls and Mount Rushmore. Her family still fondly recalls these amazing adventures.
Dot was a great cook and baker, skilled seamstress, avid gardener, and talented artist. In her later years, she proudly participated in a local tap dance recital with other seniors. She was an active member of her parish, Our Lady of the Cape, volunteering at the Thrift Shop and making Rosaries.
Dot’s kindness and good humor were a blessing to her entire family, and she loved family get-togethers with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, brothers and sisters-in-law and many beloved nieces and nephews. Her family will cherish the memories of her love and guidance and take solace that she is reunited with her loved ones who passed before her into God’s care.
Dot was predeceased by her loving husband, Thomas J. McGrath. She was the beloved mother of Karen DeMaggio and her husband Joseph, David McGrath, and his wife Mary (Judy), Richard (Rick) McGrath and his wife Karen, Gregg McGrath and his wife Jackie Mitchell, Anne McGrath, and the late Thomas J. (Tommy) McGrath Jr. and his surviving wife Elaine. She was the proud grandmother of Jesse, Heidi, Tori, Rachel, Tracy, Sean, Joe, Brian, Katie, Alicia, Kaylee, and Ryan, and loving great grandmother of Carson, Kendall, Thomas, and Olivia.
Visiting hours will be Tuesday, August 1, from 4pm to 7pm at Doane Beal & Ames, 729 Route 134, South Dennis, MA. On Wednesday, August 2, at 11:00 AM, Dot’s life will be celebrated at Our Lady of the Cape Church, 468 Stony Brook Road in Brewster.
Donations in Dot’s memory may be offered to the Brewster Council on Aging, 1673 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631.
