Brenda McCarthy Whalen

Brenda Margaret McCarthy Whalen passed peacefully on the morning of November 19, 2023, at the age of 88. Brenda was born on June 29, 1935, to Frank and Gertrude McCarthy in Waltham, MA. She attended St. Mary’s High School and graduated from the School of Education at Boston College in 1957, where she fell in love with Maurice Whalen. Moe and Brenda married in 1959, raising five daughters through many moves that included Westwood, MA, Upper Saddle River, NJ, Avon CT and Wayzata, MN before settling in McLean VA in 1980. Brenda was an active member of the community in McLean and especially at Langley High School, where she co-founded and managed the College/Career Center. Brenda believed there was a perfect college or vocation for everyone, and she was passionate about helping each student find their path in life. She later travelled the east coast helping other school districts set up their own career readiness programs. The long list of volunteers who helped Brenda run the center remained some of her closest and most steadfast friends throughout her life. Friendships were a priority for Brenda. Along with the Career Center volunteers, she found great joy in connecting with others, beginning with her best buddies in kindergarten to whom she remained close for the next eight decades, through the lifelong family friends made in every state she lived, to the members of the various book, dinner and theatre groups that meant so much to both Brenda and Moe over the years. She loved her friends deeply and in her final years often reflected on how lucky she was to have traveled her journey with so many wonderful people at her side. Brenda is survived by her daughters Mary Kate, Sheila, Eileen (Jake) Jacobsen, Betsy, and Sarah, and the greatest joys of her life, her grandchildren Liam Boyle, Brendan Boyle, Devin Boyle, Nellie Boyle, and step-grandson Cody (Meghan) Jacobsen. She was preceded in death by her brother Daniel McCarthy and her beloved husband of 51 years Maurice Whalen. Our deepest gratitude goes to her aides Mary and Perfect for bringing her so much comfort and happiness in her final months. A celebration of Brenda’s life will be held at St. Luke Catholic Church on Monday, November 27th at 11 AM at 7001 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101, with a private internment to be held at a later date. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be sent to So Others May eat at some.org. or to a charity that is meaningful to you.