M. Helene McGrath of McLean, passed away on Jan. 30, 2006 of congestive heart failure. She was 82. Helene was born in Sharon, Pa., on Aug. 17, 1923 to Thomas P. and Cora M. Griffin. She graduated from Sharon High School in 1941.
In 1942, she moved to Washington, D.C. and worked at the Pentagon where she was awarded numerous commendations for her work as a secretary. She continued to work at the Pentagon until 1951. She met her future husband, Edward J. McGrath, in 1947 and they married in June 1950. She traveled with her husband to Tokyo, Japan where he was stationed with the U.S. government. Upon their return to the United States in 1958, they settled in McLean, where she lived until her death.
Helene was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother to her husband of 55 years, Edward, her children, Kathleen (Jeffrey) Kamm of Rosemount, MN; Kevin W. McGrath of McLean, Patricia (Jeffery) Morgan of Twinsburg, Ohio and Brian (Deanne) McGrath of Westminster, Md. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Susan Vafiadis of Midlothian, Va.; Kelly Kamm of Rosemount, Minn.; Christopher, Megan, Kevin and Erin Morgan of Twinsburg, Ohio and Bridget, Ryan, Blaine and Tara McGrath of Westminster, Md. She is also survived by one great-grandson, Nicholas Vafiadis.
A funeral Mass was celebrated at St. John the Beloved in McLean, on Friday, Feb. 3, 2006. Inturnment services will be held at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.