Published in the June 28, 2018 edition
WAKEFIELD — Mabel L. McWhinnie, 105, a lifelong Wakefield resident, died Tuesday, June 26, 2018 at the Woburn Nursing Center.
Born in Wakefield on December 20, 1912 she was the daughter of the late Fred A. and Mary E. (Dulong) Muse.
Mrs. McWhinnie was raised and educated in Wakefield, where she ultimately settled and raised her family. Growing up, she and her family were residents of the Hartshorne House in Wakefield and later in life she became a resident at the Hart’s Hill Apartments. She was a member of St. Joseph Church. Her hobbies included quilting and crocheting and she also loved playing Bingo at the Wakefield Elks. Having never had a license, Mrs. McWhinnie thoroughly delighted in walking around town, which led to small town notoriety. She enjoyed taking trips to Nahant Beach. Above all, her greatest joy was her family. She had a special fondness for the babies in the family and would light up whenever they visited. Family remarked, she was “everyone’s grandmother.”
She was the beloved wife of the late William H. McWhinnie. She was the loving mother of Lorraine Sheppard and her husband Bertram of Stoneham and the late Paul R. McWhinnie and Robert E. McWhinnie. She was the cherished grandmother of Nancy Farinacci and her husband Tony of Walpole, Susan Bellavia and her husband Joseph of Fla., Linda DeLucia and her husband Robert C. of Lawrence, Karen Sweetland and her husband Brian of North Reading, Janice Keefe and her late husband Robert of Wakefield, Robert E. McWhinnie, Jr. and his wife Maria of Andover, and Paul, Kathy, Geri, and Billy McWhinnie, and the late Michael “Mickey” Sheppard. She was the grandmother-in-law of Judy Sherppard of Maine. She was the sister of the late Wilfred, Irene, Walter, Charlie, and Marion. She is also survived by numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Her funeral service will be held in the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Saturday at 12 noon. Interment, Forest Glade Cemetery, Wakefield. Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the funeral home prior to the service from 10 a.m. – 12 noon.
The family wishes to thank the staff of the Woburn Nursing Center for the tremendous care they showed “Nana” during her time at the nursing home.
