Bertha Theresa McMahon

Bertha was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on December 19, 1930, to Kazimierz and Elizabeth Ratkiewicz who had immigrated from Poland. Bertha’s childhood was spent in South Grafton, Massachusetts where she enjoyed the close community of a small town along with her older siblings Helen and Albert. Bertha graduated from Grafton High School and went on to study and graduate from Becker College where she met the love of her life, Joe. Bertha and Joe were married in 1953, moved to Millbury, Massachusetts and eventually to McLean, Virginia in 1968. During this time they shared an eventful, never boring, and wonderful life together raising their eight children: Helen McMahon, Elizabeth McMahon Straub (Joseph), Joseph McMahon Jr. (Cynthia), James McMahon (Dale Johnson), John McMahon, Jean McMahon (David Stewart), Patricia McMahon Rees, and Steven McMahon. Babci (Polish for grandmother) and Joe also took great joy in their eleven grandchildren: Laura, William, Michael, Lucy, William, Kazimir, Carl, Alexa, Matthew, Bronwyn, and Ruby.

Beyond her family, Bertha was very committed and generous to many causes in the community, particularly those that helped the less fortunate. She was very involved and dedicated to her many close friends, and always ready with a bright smile and warm greeting to all that she met. Bertha was very strong in her Catholic faith and looked so forward to once again being with her Joe after a long 17 year wait.

Bertha will be missed immensely by her family, her friends, and her community but all can take solace knowing with God’s grace she has been reunited with her Joe and she will forever be in the heart of the so many that loved her.

Services will be held at St. Luke’s Catholic Church, McLean, Virginia on Tuesday, June 13. There will be a viewing in the church’s Blessed Sacrament Chapel from 10:30 to 11:45, followed by the Burial Mass in the main church at noon. Gravesite service to follow for immediate family. All are invited to a reception at Washington Golf & Country Club, Arlington, Virginia starting at 1:30pm.