Ann Myfanwy McCarthy

Ann Myfanwy McCarthy passed away peacefully on April 12, 2021. Born in Toronto on March 3,

1928, Ann was the third child of Charles and Cecilia McCarthy (nee Flanagan) who immigrated

to Canada from Sligo, Ireland, a few years before her birth. She is predeceased by her older

brother and sister, Dermot and Geraldine, and survived by her younger sister, Eileen. After

graduating from Loretto Abbey in Toronto, she attended the University of Toronto, where she

received a degree in Occupational Therapy.

Ann’s profession took her to an eclectic assortment of health care facilities and institutions that

included Sick Children’s Hospital, the Clarke Institute and, after she retired, volunteer work at

St. Michael’s Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, the AGO and the Don Jail. But her fondest

memories came from the years that she spent working in New York, the city she fell in love with.

However, first and foremost, Ann was a notorious and irreverent prankster who was

affectionately known as ‘the Carol Burnett of Sick Kids Hospital’. She drove a canary yellow

Mustang, sported red leather pants and her weapon of choice was a strategically-located

whoopee cushion. Hallowe’en was a sacrosanct occasion for her, when she would dress up and

terrify little trick or treaters, then fill their bags with candy. There’s even an often-told family story

that she was once reprimanded at a not-to-be-mentioned palliative care clinic for mailing out

condolence cards to families of patients who had not yet died.

Ann leaves her nieces, Peg, Sheila, Molly [McCarthy] and Lia [Kahnert], as well as nephews

Paul, Brian, Michael [Kahnert] and John [McCarthy], and Fern Serrao and her family - all of

them remember magical weekends with Ann in the house she shared with her dad and sister. A

generation later, her great nieces and nephews - Stephanie, Callum, Charley, Mackenzie, Haley,

Samantha, Drew and Riley - also enjoyed sleepovers at Auntie Ann’s, where rules went out the

window and bags of candy were always at the ready.

A passionate animal lover, Ann had many pets that she openly doted on and spoiled almost as

much as her nieces and nephews. She leaves her dear and devoted friends, Mary Lawless,

Dagmar Mills, and Wendy Hynes, to whom our entire family is deeply indebted for the love and

affection they showed her.

Ann was the real deal - a true McCarthy who leaves our family with a treasure trove of fond

memories, and we adored her.

In lieu of flowers please donate to Humane Society of Canada