RANDOLPH - Mary Lucille McGrath, 91, of Fifth Avenue, Randolph, passed away Saturday, May 26, 2012, the Heritage Green Rehab and Skilled Nursing Center in Greenhurst.
She was born May 12, 1921, in Randolph, daughter of the late William and Mary Elizabeth Jackman McGrath.
Prior to and following graduation from Randolph Central School in 1940, she had her first job on the Burdette Farm near Kennedy. Workers there literally worked in the fields on their hands and knees planting and harvesting vegetables. Working hours were 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the pay was $9 per week.
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Mary Lucille McGrath
Later she worked at the former Borden Inc. in Randolph as a machine operator. In 1954 she moved west to California and joined her widowed sister Genevieve in Woodland Hills, Calif. There she secured a position at Rockwell Atomics International (Boeing), where she had a Q security clearance for classified materials. Mary Lucille was involved with the manufacturing of nuclear reactors and sending the first man to the moon in 1969. Retiring in 1980, she returned to the area and resided in the home of her birth in Randolph.
In the late 1930s and early 1940s, she played softball for the Randolph ladies team. Her position was shortstop and she was nicknamed "Red" "Loc" "Lucy".
Many games were played on the old Steamburg Seneca Reservation against the Seneca Ladies. She also enjoyed team bowling. In later years she enjoyed gardening and watching golf on television. An avid reader she was informed on current events, politics and country and western music; she held these interests until the very end of her life. She will be remembered for her generous nature which was beyond measure.
She was a Communicant of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Randolph and was a member of the Randolph American Legion Auxiliary Unit 181.
She is survived by two sisters: Beatrice Vincent and Kathryn Plummer of Randolph, nieces Marlene Wendell, Phyllis Ventura, Colleen Butera, Sandra Miller, JoAnne McGraw, nephew Philip Gatch and a cousin, Frances Mary Derby.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Genevieve Chambers and Florence Hale, a brother, Francis "Bugs" McGraw, paternal aunts Genevieve, Ella, Margaret, Mary, Etta, Dora, Catherine, uncles Thomas, John, Michael; maternal aunts Helen, Anna and Sara, uncles James, Thomas and Philip and a nephew, George Hale.
The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, June 2, 2012, in the VAN RENSSELAER and SON FUNERAL HOME, 14 Church St., Randolph, from where funeral services will be follow at 11 a.m. The Rev. Joseph Janaczek will officiate. Inurnment will be in the St. Patrick's Cemetery in Randolph.
To leave a condolence log onto www.vanrensselaerandsonfuneralhome.com.