Marilyn R. "Lynne" McCarthy

Exeter/Rye - Marilyn R. “Lynne” McCarthy of Exeter, formerly of Rye, NH and North Andover, MA passed away August 28, 2024 at RiverWoods of Exeter. She was born May 3, 1931 in Haverhill, MA one of seven children to the late Louis H. Hamel and Dorothy A. (Berry) Hamel. Lynne was raised in Bradford, MA. She graduated from Notre Dame Academy in Tyngsborough, MA. She attended Rosemont College. After raising her 6 children, she attended Merrimack College where she was inducted into the National Honor Society and graduated cum laude in 1977. She was a member of the Ladies of Merrimack and was instrumental in planning and arranging Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pop concert at Merrimack College in early 1970. Lynne was always very independent and athletic. At the age of 3, she won a boxing match against a young boy at the Belmont, in Harwichport, MA where her family spent their summers. She received an engraved silver trophy and a lime lollipop. For Lynne, the lollipop was the greatest prize. They took it away to get pictures and didn’t give it back! Even in her 90’s she talked about how mad she got when they didn’t give her back her green lollipop. Lynne always had a ball in her hand when she was a child and would entertain herself for hours. She loved horseback riding through her teen years. She also loved playing tennis, golfing and swimming throughout her life. Lynne was a wonderful mother and raised six children living in North Andover, MA. She loved her family and loved being a mom and she did all she could to provide for them. She was a very talented artist in many mediums. She loved to quilt, needlepoint, paint, draw and there was a time in her life that she always had her sketch book with her. She learned to knit when she was 5 years old and she always had her knitting with her. She never sat idle. Every year while she sat in the waiting room for her 6 kids to get through their dentist appointments and any other Dr. appointments, her knitting needles were always going. In addition to making sweaters for all her children every year, she sewed much of her 2 daughters wardrobes and made them an Easter outfit for many of their childhood years. She knitted and crochet baby blankets for all her grandchildren and great grandchildren and made a needlepoint Christmas stocking for all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. At Christmas time she knitted a hat for all her children, their spouses, her grandchildren, their spouses and great grandchildren. 56 hats!! Her love for knitting has been passed down the generations as she taught many of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to knit as well as many others. She loved watching sports and was an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan. She was a big fan of Carl Yastrzemski “Yaz”. In the 70’s, she attended a Red Sox game on his birthday and was one of the many fans waving signs that said “I love Yaz”. She moved to Osterville, MA in 1979 and with her children grown she now had time to play golf regularly and was a member of the Wianno Club for many years. She moved to Rye, NH in 1986 to be closer to her children. She became a member of Abenaqui Country Club where she won many tournaments and trophy’s. She spent her winters in Palm Beach Gardens, FL living on the PGA Golf Course where she got 2 hole in ones in the bear claw. She loved living there and watching and meeting many of the pros. In 2006 she sold her place in Florida and lived in Rye, NH year round. Her house was a wonderful family home and her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren would get together for cookouts, swimming, and family parties. Her favorite day of the year was the day of her family Christmas party with over 50 family members. All her grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews knew her and loved her and she treasured each and everyone. She loved hearing what all of them were doing, visiting with them and getting text and calls. She enclosed her pool so she could swim 365 days a year and she did that for many years until she sold her house to move to Riverwoods in 2019. Lynne always had a kind word to say to everyone and never missed an opportunity to let someone know how much she appreciated them. Even in her last days when she was in hospice care and in great pain, she took every waking moment to express how much she loved and appreciated her entire family, all the wonderful people at Riverwood’s that she got to know over her years and the hospice team that took wonderful care of her in her final days. She leaves six children: Thomas McCarthy and his wife Paula of North Hampton, Stephen McCarthy and his wife Johnette of Simpsonville, SC, Kathleen (Katie) McCarthy and her husband Jim Pittman of Effingham, NH, Peter McCarthy and his wife Debra of Greenville, SC, Susan Ray and her husband Joe of Rye, NH, Michael McCarthy and his wife Jenn of East Falmouth, MA, 18 grandchildren: Sean, Megan, Tommy, Ryan, Michael, Morgan, Jen, Rose, Danny, Claire, John, Lindsey, Erin, Shea, Kaytlin, Emma, Elizabeth and Amelia, 18 great grandchildren: Karlina, Selena, Liliana, Samuel, Abigail, Baby Blair, Cooper, Oliver, Charlotte, Lucas, Lena, Lily, Zachery, Callum, Cora, Tate, Charlie, Murphy, her brother Gerald Hamel and wife Jan of Chocorua, NH and many nieces and nephews. She was a wonderful mother, Grammie Lynne, GG, Mima, Aunt, sister and friend. She was adored by many and will be dearly missed. In addition to her parents she was predeceased by five siblings, Virginia Heffernan, Gloria Spellman, Claire Hochschwender, Patricia Collins and Louis Hamel Jr. Visiting hours will be from 3-5 Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, 811 Lafayette Road, Hampton. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:00 Thursday, September 5, 2024 at St. Theresa Church, 820 Central Road, Rye Beach. Burial will follow in Central Cemetery, Rye, NH. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Due to allergy concerns the family request no Easter Lilies or lilacs. Peace Lilies, orchids and plants are welcome. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Judes by clicking here or the Salvation Army by clicking here.

Marilyn R. "Lynne" McCarthy

May 3, 1931 - August 28, 2024