McPhee Gibney, Priscilla

Priscilla (Gavigan) McPhee Gibney, 94, of Wrentham, formerly of Canton, passed away on Friday, February 17, 2023, peacefully and with family. Her health began to decline in November of 2022. She faced her sudden onset of illnesses with strength and dignity and faith.

Priscilla is predeceased by her husband, Richard McPhee, and her husband, Richard Gibney. Priscilla was the devoted mother to her son Richard McPhee and his wife, Judy, of Holden, and their children Dan (Mia) of North Carolina, Emily Burke (Joe) of Braintree, and Allison McPhee of Canton, and devoted mother to her daughter Luann Reidy and her husband, John, of Wrentham, and their children Chris (Manu) of Auburn, Caroline of Baltimore, and Phillip of California. Priscilla is also survived by her “three little angels,” her great-grandchildren Jack and Henry McPhee of North Carolina and Callie Burke of Braintree. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Carol Gibney of Wayland and by numerous beloved nephews, nieces and friends. Priscilla was the sister of the late Mary Umstatter, Virginia Gavigan, Albert Gavigan and Joseph Gavigan.

Priscilla was born on June 14, 1928, to Joseph T. Gavigan, Sr. and Louise (King) Gavigan, and lived almost her entire life on Mechanic Street in Canton until she moved to Wrentham with her daughter Luann in 2022 at the age of 93. She graduated from Canton High School in 1945, and in 1949 she married Dick McPhee, with whom she had her children, Rick and Luann. After Dick’s untimely death in 1955, Priscilla devoted herself to a lifetime of commitment to her family, friends and co-workers, and created and maintained relationships that lasted for decades, up to her death.

In April of 1999, she married Dick Gibney, with whom she graduated from Canton High School in 1945. Priscilla had a wonderful marriage with Dick, who died in 2012. Priscilla held numerous interesting jobs, including positions at Plymouth Rubber, Leo Strumski Insurance, Heath Consultants and Horizon House in Westwood.

Covid resulted in her retirement from her full-time job at Horizon House in 2020 at the age of 91. Priscilla continued her vibrant life after her retirement, riding her exercise bicycle every night, driving to her appointments and her constant social engagements with her innumerable friends and relatives, and generally living life to the fullest. Priscilla devoted her entire life, in the face of numerous hardships, to her children, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren. Her Catholic faith was the strength from which she derived her wonderful approach to her life. It was a good life well-lived. She will be forever loved and missed.

A funeral Mass was held on February 23 in St. Oscar Romero Parish. Burial followed the Mass at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Canton.

If people wish to make contributions, Priscilla would appreciate gifts to Catholic TV-Bishop Reed, 34 Chestnut St., P.O. Box 9196, Watertown, MA 02471, www.catholictv.org, or to Old Colony Hospice, 321 Manley St., West Bridgewater, MA 02379; www.oldcolonyhospice.org. For guestbook, see dockrayandthomasfuneralhome.com.

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Posted by Canton Citizen on Mar 2 2023. Filed under Obituaries. Both comments and pings are currently closed.