Mary J. McLaughlin

Mary (“Molly”) J. McLaughlin passed away comfortably in her sleep on November 17, 2024 at the age of 96. Molly was a thoughtful and kind sister, aunt and retired nurse. She was strong, smart, and self-assured. 

The daughter of Edward and Laura McLaughlin, Molly was a lifelong Philadelphian and long- time member of Our Lady of Lourdes and Presentation BVM Parishes. She resided in the Overbrook Farms section of Philadelphia and later Wynnewood. Molly was a proud graduate of Our Lady of Lourdes School, St. Leonard’s Academy, Fitzgerald Mercy Nursing School, University of Pennsylvania and St. Joseph’s University. Curious by nature, Molly enjoyed world travel, coin collecting, history and interesting conversation. She was also an Eagles and Phillies fan, taking her nieces and nephews to many games at Veteran’s Stadium and even teaching them how to keep score in baseball. 

Molly retired from nursing at the “early” age of 87 after serving as a nurse at the VA Hospital in Philadelphia for over 50 years. She developed many lifelong friendships with both her professional colleagues and former patients. Her nursing career included treating patients who were veterans from the Spanish-American War through the Gulf wars. She was actively involved in giving out polio vaccines during her early nursing career and is credited with helping to report the Legionnaires ’ disease crisis in the 1970s, which was killing American Legion members/veterans after a convention in Philadelphia. Later, Molly fearlessly cared for and treated AIDS and HIV patients at the VA Hospital at the outset of that epidemic. Molly always led with respect for others and empathy for those in need.

A caring sister and aunt, Molly is predeceased by her sisters Anne Gibbons and Marge Gavin and survived by her youngest sister, Eleanor O’Kane. She will be missed by her nieces and nephews Laura, John, Tony, Anne, Martha, Tom, Mary Anne, Bill and Jerry. Molly is also survived by the Mundy Family, Jimmy, Michael, Donna, Missy, Shelley, Mathew, Sheila, Debbie, Mark, and Christopher (deceased), to whom she was always “Aunt Molly.” 

When she wasn’t globe travelling, Molly enjoyed the Philadelphia sports teams, a thought-provoking book, a hoagie and a good Scotch. In particular, she liked a good Scotch and intelligent conversations with family and friends, about politics, world travel, and/or world events. She will be missed by her family and all those friends that she made through caring for others.

Relatives and friends are invited to Molly's Celebration of Life Mass at Presentation B.V.M., 204 Haverford Road, Wynnewood, PA on Thursday, December 5 at 11:00AM.