William Joseph Cavanagh

William “Bill” Joseph Cavanagh was born January 22, 1932 in Roosky, County Roscommon, Ireland to Jane (Geelan) and Patrick Cavanagh. He spent his childhood in Ireland with his parents and two sisters. He left to find work outside of Ireland and traveled to New Zealand, California, Hawaii, and eventually ended up in Maryland. While at an Irish dance in Washington, DC, he met a woman named Mary Gallagher of Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland. Depending on who you ask, they were both wall flowers who got the other one to dance with them. They were married at Sacred Heart Church in Washington, DC on December 16, 1962.

Bill and Mary spent their entire married life together on 37th Street in Mount Rainier, Maryland. There, they raised five children. While Mary took care of the kids and ran an at-home daycare, Bill worked various jobs. He was an electrician, plumber, engineer for St. Paul’s, owned two laundromats with Mary, and even had an ice cream truck. He would play with the children, take them all on trips, and support them throughout their lives.

In the early 1990s, his children started having children and he became known as Pawpaw. He was a very active grandfather and was always interested in every aspect of his 13 grandchildren’s lives. He would go to their graduations and special events, was present at every birthday and party, would take them to job interviews, and loved to talk and laugh with them for hours on end. He looked forward every year to which niece and nephew from abroad would visit so he could treat them like he did his children and grandchildren.

Bill passed away peacefully at home surrounded by all five of his children, his 13 grandchildren, and his wife on August 31, 2026. He is being greeted in heaven by his parents, Jane and Patrick, his sister, Maria “Bernadette” with her husband Thomas “Sonny.”

He leaves behind in love his sister: Bridget “Bridie” (Patrick “PJ” 1931 - 2020), many nieces and nephews, his children: Patrick (Patricia), James, Jane (Eddie), Nora (Roy), and Bridget, his grandchildren: Caitlin (Russell), Sara, Mary (Mark), Patrick (Sidney), Brendan (Hannah), Kelly, Ryan, Michael (Shaylind), Tyler (Jacquelyn), Thomas (Rebecca), Paige, William Nathaniel, and Joshua, his great-grandchildren: Oliver and Moira, and his wonderful, devoted, and loving wife of 64 years, Mary.

Until we meet again, may God hold him in the palm of his hands.