Phyllis Mae McCarthy

Born Phyllis Mae Salomone on July 22, 1924, in Knoxville, Tennessee, “Fifi” was the fifth in a lineup of eight children. Her dad was president of a successful marble company and helped build many of the most visited federal buildings and memorials in Washington, DC – a source of great pride for her. She loved her family very much and talked of her parents and brothers and sisters often; she was especially eager to see her mother again.

Fifi met her handsome FBI agent husband at a dinner dance in Knoxville – he had seen her at church and made a point of meeting her. Though their courtship lasted only three months, they were happily married for more than 30 years, until his death on Easter Sunday in 1984. Together they enjoyed their life in Nashua, NH where they raised six children before moving to the seacoast of Rye, NH.

Fifi was a force of nature. Her candor was tempered by enormous charity, which she bestowed on everyone. Her kindness was especially apparent in her care for children and grandchildren and in her career as a registered nurse. She spent her early years as a nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital in Knoxville, TN, and, when her children were older, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Nashua. Many remember her as a loving caregiver who touched the lives of those in her charge and inspired several young women to enter the nursing profession.

A devout Catholic, Fifi led others to the faith, which she also passed on to her children.

Fifi is survived by her brother, Jerome Salomone of Knoxville, Tennessee, her six children Donnamarie Mills of Chevy Chase, Maryland, Martha Robertson of Tuftonboro, New Hampshire, Philip McCarthy of Methuen, Massachusetts, Kevin McCarthy of Manchester, New Hampshire, Jeffrey McCarthy of Ithaca, New York, Regina Lapierre of Bethesda, Maryland, daughters-in-law Sandy McCarthy and Marleny McCarthy, sons-in-law Mark Mills, Dana Robertson, John Ackerman and Paul Lapierre. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband, Philp F. McCarthy and by six brothers and sisters.

Her family members extend their love and gratitude to the angels at Larmax Homes in Bethesda, Maryland who cared for her lovingly in her final years, as well as her kind caregivers in New Hampshire. Calling hours are Monday, March 7, from 5pm to 8pm at Gawler's Funeral Home, 5130 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016; a Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, March 8, at 10am at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 7500 Pearl Street, Bethesda, MD 20814, with private interment at a later date in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the retired religious of her sister-in-law's order, School Sisters of Notre Dame, 345 Belden Hill Road, Wilton, CT 06897.