Obituary of Phyllis McCafferty

Phyllis McCafferty, a 65 year resident of Burlington, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday afternoon, March 12, 2016. The beloved wife of the late Edward McCafferty, she was 87 years old. Phyllis was born in Woburn, the daughter of the late Henry and Mary Johnson. She was raised and educated in Woburn and was a graduate of Woburn High School. She married Edward McCafferty in 1950 and settled in Burlington. Phyllis quickly became an active member of the community of Burlington. Being the sister of hockey players, she was quite a skilled skater and she helped in the early days of Burlington Hockey and Figure Skating Association as a skating instructor. She was a longtime parishioner of St. Margaret’s Church where she was a member the Catholic Daughters, taught religious education, chaperoned for CYO events, and helped in the annual Christmas Bazaars. Phyllis was a woman of family. Growing up with 7 brothers and sisters in Woburn, she learned early about the importance of family and supporting and caring for those she loved. She was a very supportive wife to her husband Edward as he rose through the ranks in the Burlington Police Department from patrolman to Police Chief. She understood the demands and strain his career required and she managed the home as he provided for the family and served the residents of Burlington. She was deeply connected to her boys as they grew up supporting them in their interests, activities and sports. She was always in the stands cheering for her sons as they played hockey. She would pack up her sons at the end of the school year and spend the summers at their cottage in Conway, New Hampshire. She loved being a grandmother and being a part of her grandchildren’s lives. She was always willing to lend a helping hand or baby sit. She went on several Disney vacations with the grandkids and was thrilled to have experienced their joy and excitement at Disney. She was an extremely independent woman, still driving, making her own decisions, and filling her days with activities and shopping. Phyllis was the beloved wife of the late Burlington Police Chief, Edward McCafferty. Loving mother of David & his wife Marie and Peter & his wife Patricia all of Burlington. Sister of Paul Johnson of Woburn, Betty Greekwood of Reading, William Alan Johnson of Stoneham, Philip Johnson of Reading, the late Richard, Robert and Charlotte Johnson. Proud grandmother of Andrew, Megan, Joshua, Michael, Taylor, Ethan and late Wesley Keegan McCafferty. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Thursday, March 17 at 11 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church 111 Winn Street, Burlington at Noon. Visiting hours Wednesday from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Phyllis’s name may be made to People Helping People, P.O. Box 343, Burlington, MA 01803.