Maureen Elizabeth McCarthy

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." (2 Tim 4:7)

Maureen Elizabeth McCarthy (“Mo”), 71, died Wednesday, September 10, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona of a ruptured aneurysm. She was born on July 22, 1954, in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Charles W. Farrell and Loretta E. Farrell.

Mo was a cheerful, faithful, loving, hardworking wife and mother of five. The keystone of her life was her Catholic faith. Mo graduated from Marygrove College in Detroit, Michigan. While living in Ann Arbor, Michigan, she met her husband, Thomas, when he was in graduate school at the University of Michigan. They were married on August 7, 1982. They lived in Arkansas, Texas, Florida, New Hampshire, and Arizona. Her experience raising five children over two decades, before cell phones or GPS made her the ideal candidate for every job she took after her youngest went to kindergarten. Incredibly, she was never late for drop-off or pickup at school, sports practices or music lessons. She also chose every role based on the value that it would add to her family, including discounted orthodontics, access to summer jobs for her kids, and the very best health insurance. Most recently, in Phoenix, Mo dedicated 16 years as an administrative assistant in the Intensive Care Unit at Mayo Clinic and passed away on the same floor where she worked with deep pride, commitment to the hospital’s mission, and love for her co-workers. Tom and Mo retired in 2022 and served faithfully at their parish and focused on their 10 wonderful grandchildren. She could always be counted on for guidance, wisdom, parenting advice and more, always informed by the understanding that “God’s in charge.”

Mo is survived by her husband of 43 years, Thomas K. McCarthy, and five children: Brian McCarthy (Anne Marie), Molly McCarthy (Tito Carvalho), Thomas McCarthy (Virginia), John McCarthy (Nicole), and Eileen McCarthy (CJ Dawalt). She is also survived by her sisters, Joan Byrne, Sheila Volweider, Marianne Farrell, Loretta Hill, and Janet Monahan, and brothers, David Farrell and John Farrell. She was predeceased by her brother Charles Farrell. She leaves behind 10 grandchildren: Stephen, Katherine, James and Daniel McCarthy; Gabriel Carvalho; Lola and Leo McCarthy; Nolan and Levi McCarthy; and Elsie Dawalt.

Visitation will be held at Shadow Mountain Funeral Home, 2350 E. Greenway Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85022 on Thursday, September 18 at 6:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass begins on Friday, September 19 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 3801 E. Greenway Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85032. A rosary will be said prior to the Funeral Mass beginning at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to Mo’s parish, St. Joan of Arc (https://pushpay.com/g/stjoanofarcaz). God’s love is wonderful, and remember, God is in charge!