Claudia Jean (Rodway) McGrath

Claudia Jean McGrath, of South Portland, passed away on Wednesday, July 26 at Maine Medical Center in Portland. She was 82.

            Mrs. McGrath was born March 27, 1935 in Portland, one of 10 children of Charles and Florence Rodway. Perhaps it was the difficult times of the Great Depression which led to she and her siblings being extremely close through the years. The Rodway family formed a strong support network for each other.

            In 1957, she married Michael McGrath, of Greenwich, Conn., and they had three boys -- Steven, Dennis and Michael. After 10 years, the marriage dissolved and Mrs. McGrath returned to Maine to raise her children.

            In the early 1970s, she earned a position as a telephone operator for the Portland Press Herald. She kept that job for many years, rising to the position of switchboard supervisor.

            But in her mind, the only job she ever wanted was to be a mom. And she was an exceptional mother and grandmother.

            Mrs. McGrath was a devout churchgoer and a familiar face at Trinity Episcopal Church and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, where she was a member of the Altar Guild. Her strong religious beliefs helped her endure the loss of many beloved family members throughout her life.

            In 1976, her youngest son, Michael, passed away in a car accident. And in 2015, her son, Dennis, died in a scuba diving accident. Her beloved grandson Mikey passed away in an accident in 2012. Through all that, and the loss of all nine of her brothers and sisters, she endured and trusted in God’s good will. Now she goes to be with those she lost.

            Mrs. McGrath is survived by her son, Steven, of Fort Lauderdale, FL; her daughter-in-law, Kathleen McGrath, of Scarborough; her granddaughters, Jessica Bain, of Orlando, FL, and Kelsey McGrath, of Monroe; and her grandson, Tyler McGrath, of Scarborough.

Visiting Hours will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at A.T. Hutchins Funeral Home, 660 Brighton Ave., Portland, Maine. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m.

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