Rafferty, Marguerite

Marguerite (Etty) Rafferty, 86, of Norfolk and formerly Canton, passed away peacefully surrounded by loving family August 12, 2021.

Born in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, to Bernard and Mary Sherry and raised in Glasgow, Scotland, Etty immigrated to the United States in 1963 to marry her childhood sweetheart, Vincent (retired Canton Police Detective who predeceased her in 1998). Together they built a life of beloved family and treasured neighbors and friends in a community like no other, Canton.

Gammy (as she was known to her grandchildren and their friends) was an “Irish Spitfire” who embraced life and made friends no matter where she went. With her quick wit and straightforward manner, she was a master at connecting with people. She had backbone and stood up for those who couldn’t stand up for themselves, never sugarcoating her thoughts. She had unparalleled empathy and humanity for those she encountered in need.

Etty found great joy in hanging out with her squad at the senior center, as they often headed out for laughter-filled lunches and mimosas. Yet her greatest happiness came from being in the presence of her grandchildren. Whether it be winning the Quinnipiac Pong Championship at her grandson’s frat (side note, Instagram Barstool U “Grandma’s still got it #Never Graduate”), cooking Sunday dinner for her “wee angels,” “spilling the tea” (in other words, getting all the news and gossip in their lives), or competing in rounds of Jeopardy against them, Gammy couldn’t get enough of them surrounding her. It is impossible to sum up the life of such an incredible human being with a few lines in a newspaper or social post. She left a legacy of life lessons and examples that will guide us through the decades and generations to come. Simply stated, she was one of a kind!

Gammy is survived by her three daughters, Lorraine Altmeyer (Paul) of Norfolk, Helena Rafferty of Norfolk, and Anita Rafferty of Charleston, South Carolina; her six incredible grandchildren, Lauren, Kristen, Declan, Aidan, Colin and Breslin; her brother Peter Sherry (Mary) of South Carolina; her adopted family Bill, Kim, Sarah and Dave Couture of Burlington, VT; and a number of wonderful nieces, nephews and in-laws scattered throughout the globe.

Her memory is a blessing and she is now at peace with her mother and father, sisters Anna and Maisie, brother Ted, and of course, Papa, who no doubt was there to meet her with his huge Irish smile. A celebration of life was held on Wednesday, August 18, in St. John the Evangelist Church in Canton. Donations in her memory may be made to Gammy’s favorite charity, “Cops for Kids with Cancer,” PO Box 850956, Braintree, MA 02185. Arrangements by the Dockray and Thomas Funeral, 455 Washington Street, dockrayandthomasfuneralhome.com.

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Posted by Canton Citizen on Aug 19 2021. Filed under Obituaries. Both comments and pings are currently closed.