Margaret Louise Young

Margaret Louise (McCarthy) Young, 97 years old, Athol MA, died peacefully at home on Monday April 26th, surrounded by her loving family. Margaret was born in Gardner on March 13th, 1924 to Arthur and Anne (Brogan) McCarthy. She attended Sacred Heart School and graduated from Gardner High School in 1941. She attended Fitchburg State College and graduated with a teaching degree in education in 1944 and eventually completed a Master’s Degree also at Fitchburg State College. Soon after graduating, she started teaching Junior High math in the Athol Regional School system. While teaching she met and married Charles Francis Young (of Athol) in 1953. She paused her teaching career after marriage to start a family. Margaret and Charles raised 7 children at their home on School Street. Margaret re-entered the teaching profession in 1972 and taught math at Athol Junior High for several more years. In addition to teaching math in the Athol School system for over 20 years, Margaret was an active member of the Athol community serving on several boards and committees including; Chairperson for the Library Trustee Committee, Chairperson for the Athol Council on Aging, a member of the Athol Middle School building committee and a member of the Athol Library renovation committee. She was actively involved with parish life within the Our Lady Immaculate community including lecturing and finance committee member. She was also trained through the SHINE program to advise seniors on navigating health care issues. Margaret and Charles were active campers and upon her retirement they traveled and camped extensively within the United States, crisscrossing the country several times. Margaret and Charles spent decades camping at Nickerson State Park on Cape Cod where they served as volunteer host campers. Throughout those many summers they made several close and enduring friendships and provided for many happy memories for their children and grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband of 47 years, Charles F. Young, her infant son, Charles E., her sister, Frances Girouard and her brother, Eugene McCarthy. She is survived by her seven children; Timothy J. of Gardner, MA, John P. of Brewster, MA, Peter J, of Greenfield, MA, Brian E. of Brattleboro VT, Dennis C. and his wife Patricia of Los Altos, CA, Michael A. of West Chester, PA and Mary Anne Bragdon and her husband Donald of Brewster, MA, along with 8 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to the following organizations that were dear to Margaret; Friends of the Athol Library, 568 Main Street, Athol MA 01331, Friends of the Athol Council on Aging, 82 Freedom St Athol, MA 01331, or Friends of Nickerson State Park PO Box 964 Brewster MA 02631. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, July 30, 2021 at 11:00 am at Our Lady of Immaculate Church, 192 School Street, Athol, MA 01331. A calling hour will be held from 9:00 - 10:30 am in the Fiske Murphy Mack Funeral Home, 110 New Athol Road, Orange, MA prior to the funeral. Burial will follow in the Gethsemane Cemetery, Athol, MA. To leave an online condolence please visit www.mackfamilyfh.com Fiske Murphy Mack Funeral Home, 110 New Athol Road, Orange, MA 01364 has been entrusted with Margaret’s funeral arrangements.