With 96 years of wonderful experience, Violet gently passed on January 29, 2013 at home with her son, Kevin, and daughter-in-law, Jeanne, after living comfortably with them for the past two years in Allentown, PA. As her health declined, Kevin and Jeanne preferred that she stay with them.
Though Violet never got past the 8th grade, having to leave school to work to help support the family during the Depression, she had a great love of books and learning, including reading the family's entire set of Collier's Encyclopedias. She strongly imbued her children with that love.
Also, a big fan of music and opera, she would listen to the Metropolitan Opera's Saturday broadcasts, often propped on the arm of the sofa by the radio, humming along to favorite arias (Joan Sutherland was "tops" for her).
Married to Paul Francis McQuaite (passed 1985) in 1936, she delayed having children until after the war in 1950 (Paul was in the Navy, stationed in Norwalk, VA). She firmly wanted to set up a house first, and in 1949, bought the house at 1358 Perkiomen Avenue in Reading, creating and managing a home for her family.
Violet was a great planner and financial manager and made her husband's salary stretch to amazing lengths, paying off the mortgage early; doing major renovations to the house; and putting her sons through college. And there was always enough left over for family vacations each summer.
Active in St. Paul's UCC, situated right behind the house, a prime joy was helping with "the girls" when it came to Easter and Christmas candy making or the August peach festival. Her children received many boxes of candy at those holidays.
A stay-at-home mom of the 50's and 60's, she said that her proudest achievements were her sons. She was always honest, straightforward and upfront, but never rancorous or mean. She loved and was loved by all.
She is survived by her sons, Kim (Deborah) and Kevin (Jeanne); grandchildren, Caitlin, Austin, and Kara; and step-grandchildren, Alyssa and Tim. She was also a "second mom" to her "second sons," nephews Michael Marshall (Paula), Kerry Marshall (Kathy), and John Moses, child of Kathryn and Forrest Moses, longtime best friends; not to forget her "second-grandchildren," Stephanie and Kerry Jr., Sara and Renae.
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