April 14, 1933 – July 24, 2021
James M. McMahon, age 88 of Reading, MA, died on Saturday, July 24.
He was born in Boston on April 14, 1933, and was one of five children of the late John and Alice (Smith) McMahon.
He was raised in Brighton and graduated from Brighton High School. He joined the Air Force and served four years in the Korean War. He then went on to four years at Boston University and graduated with a Business degree. He met and married the love of his life Virginia (Ginger) Desnew and they enjoyed 61 years together. He started and finished his business career at New England Life in Boston. Jim and his wife Ginny raised four daughters in Reading. As a family, they enjoyed many fun vacations together skiing up north in the winters and spending time at Cape Cod in the summers. He was an avid fan of the Red Sox and the Patriots. In his retirement, he spent winters in Florida primarily in Naples with his wife, where his daughters often joined their parents for more fun adventures and family time.
Jim was a gentleman, kind and loving, and always had a quick wit and made everyone laugh. Jim’s family was everything to him. His years spending time with his grandchildren were amongst his most precious memories. They adored their Grampa and learned a lot from him. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Jim was the loving husband of Virginia L. (Desnew) McMahon. He was the beloved father of Mary DeRosa and her husband Brian of Berkley, Virginia Bonish and her husband John of Wilmington, Theresa Chorlian and her husband Henry of Wilmington, and Kathleen Lapery and her husband Gregory of Stoneham. Jim was the cherished grandfather of Scott Bonish, James Bonish, Stephen Bonish, Sara Lapery, and Meghan Lapery.
Jim’s funeral mass will be celebrated in St. Patrick’s Church, 71 Central St, Stoneham on Thursday, July 29 at 10 a.m. followed by a burial service at St Patrick’s Cemetery in Stoneham. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
Arrangements in the care of the McDonald Funeral Home, Wakefield.
