Priscilla Mary Quinn

Priscilla Mary (McGaughey) Quinn, age 78, of Chelmsford, died peacefully on March 29th, 2018, Holy Thursday, surrounded by her family at her home after a five week battle with pancreatic cancer.

Priscilla was born on May 31, 1939 and was the only child of prominent home builder Howard T. McGaughey and Mary (Townsend) McGaughey. Howard developed many streets and houses in the Westlands section of town including Priscilla Avenue which was shaped like a P. She was a lifelong resident of Chelmsford and graduated from Chelmsford High in 1956 and attended ULowell for business courses.

Priscilla was a communicant of Saint Mary Church in Chelmsford where she was baptized, had first communion, confirmed and was married in 1965 to John Patrick Quinn, Jr., who also is a lifelong resident of Chelmsford.

Priscillas highest priority was always her family. As a stay-at-home mother during the first part of her marriage, Priscilla attended every sports match for her children, taught religious education classes and was a founder and co-President of the Saint Mary Church Womens Club for eight years. She was committed to providing a loving and supportive home and was thrilled as her family expanded by marriages and grandchildren. She was so proud of her two granddaughters who were the light of her life. She loved spending time with them and never missed any of their school performances and activities. Priscillas favorite holidays were Christmas and any of her childrens or grandchildrens birthdays because she always knew the perfect gift to give.

After her children were older, Priscilla was able to resume her accounting career at Genesys Software Systems from where she retired in 2001.

This would have been her 65th year enjoying the Red House a cottage that her parents built in 1953 in Buzzells Cove on Lake Winnipesaukee, NH. Priscilla cherished the time she was able to spend there with her mother, Mary, who lived to the age of 97, and was her lifelong best friend. She was an avid motorboat enthusiast and, notably, the water ski driver for all of her children and their friends. She loved sitting at the waters edge at sunrise and sunset listening to families of loons calling out eerily in the cove. Priscilla was Treasurer of the Buzzell Cove Association for over twenty years and actively participated in their many community improvements and social activities.

Priscilla and John travelled extensively over the years and, in particular, celebrated their 25th Anniversary in Hawaii, 40th in Bermuda and 50th in Ireland. During retirement, Priscilla and John wintered in Naples, FL at Beachwalk on Vanderbilt Beach Drive, where they have enjoyed an active social life. She relaxed by doing puzzles, adult coloring books, flower gardening, making handmade knit gifts and being an avid reader.

Preceded in death by her parents Howard and Mary (Townsend) McGaughey, Priscilla is survived by her husband of 53 years, John P Quinn Jr, son John P. Quinn III and his husband Curtis J. Strohl of New York, NY, son Daniel J. Quinn and his wife Marguerite H. (Conroy) Quinn of Chelmsford, Ma., her granddaughters Katherine M. Quinn and Gabrielle M. Quinn of Chelmsford, and daughter Allison C. Quinn of Weymouth, Ma. She is also survived by her dear Sister-in-Law Ann G. (Quinn) Anstiss and her children, Raymond, Barbara, Julie, and their families. Priscilla, an only child, was blessed with close relatives across the McGaughey, Townsend, Kivlan, and Quinn families as well as friends from Chelmsford, Buzzells Cove and Beachwalk. She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by all.

Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday from 4-8 pm at the BLAKE CHELMSFORD FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen St., CHELMSFORD. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday at 11 o'clock at St. Mary Church, 25 North Rd., Chelmsford. Interment will follow in St. Patrick Cemetery, Lowell. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in memory of Priscilla to St. Vincents de Paul Society of St. Mary Church, Chelmsford (http://www.saint-mary.org/ParishLife/st-vincent-de-paul) .

First Visitation
April 3, 2018 4:00pm - 8:00pm,
Blake Chelmsford Funeral Home
24 Worthen Street
Chelmsford, MA 01824

Mass of Christian Burial Information
April 4, 2018 11:00am,
St. Mary Parish
25 North Road
Chelmsford, MA 01824

Interment Location
April 4, 2018,
St. Patrick Cemetery
1251 Gorham Street
Lowell, MA 01852