Helen Frances (Cronin) McCarran

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s Church, Medford on Monday December 10, 2018 for Helen Frances (Cronin) McCarran at 11:30 am.

Helen was the daughter of the late John J. and Mary (Harrington) Cronin, she was 90 years young and was referred to as a “miracle woman” having been diagnosed with terminal cancer at age 77.  With her strong faith, love of life, laughter and support of family and friends she continued to enjoy her days at the beach, trips to the casino and attending her grandchildren’s activities.

Helen passed away peacefully on Thursday December 6, 2018.  Helen was born and raised in Medford where she graduated from Medford High School at age 16 and attended Fisher Junior College.  She met her husband Fran while working as the Assistant to the Dean of  Engineering at Tufts University.  After they married, spent time in Maine and Virginia, they settle in Watertown where she remained active in the community.  She was always fun-loving  and was the “first in” with her children and then her grandchildren to go sledding, swim in the pool, go to the beach, play cards, cribbage, and rummy cube.  She touched so many lives with her gentle, accepting and loving way.  Her support was never ending whether that was typing a school paper you left to last minute, or listening to your problems, she always had a way of making you feel better.

Helen and her late husband, Francis H. McCarran Jr. shared 69 years together. They were blessed with five children Francis H. McCarran III and his wife Joanne, William J. McCarran and his wife Lorraine, Linda M. Crusco and her companion Mike Bonacci, Ann M. Sachetta and her husband Joe and Eileen Morris and her husband Walter.  Helen “Nana” loved and was extremely proud of her fourteen grandchildren, Sheri Bailey, Shawn Fleming and her husband Bryan, Francis H. McCarran IV, Shena Youngblood, Shannon Ellis and her husband Casey, Christine McCarran and her fiancée John Dunner, Erin McCarran and her boyfriend Dave Carr, Stephen Crusco and his wife Jessica, Laura Crusco and her companion JP Connolly, Eric Sachetta and his wife Meg, Brian Sachetta, Walter J. Morris Jr., Kerry Morris and her fiancée David Pierce and Rachel Helen Morris. Her 12 great grandchildren kept her active, she could be found doing puzzles or playing cars on the floor with them, Lauren and Ethan Bailey, Samuel, Tyler and Brady Fleming, Kinsley Youngblood, Luke Ellis, Conor, and Kayla Crusco, Bryanna and Sophie Crusco and Logan Sachetta.  She loved and cherished her late sister Mary McShea and brothers John and Walter Cronin.  Helen was blessed with many caring nieces, nephews, good friends and passionate caretakers.

Funeral from MacDonald, Rockwell and MacDonald Funeral home at 270 Main Street, Watertown on Monday December 10, 2018 at 10am followed by a Funeral Mass in the church of St. Joseph’s 118 High Street Medford at 11:30am.  Relatives and friends kindly invited.

Visiting hours Sunday 4-7PM

Interment, Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Helen Frances (Cronin) McCarran, please visit our floral store.