Jean McGrath – She Brought a Touch of Class to Conshohocken

8/19/2019

by Brian Coll

My heart broke a little when I saw the news of Jean’s passing. In the title of this, I say she brought a touch of class to Conshohocken and she did. Growing up here in the 70’s and 80’s it was a little different. We still had factories and corner bars and a little more soot in the air and on the faces of the people of the borough. Jean always seemed to bring a touch of class to everything she was involved with. The events that she worked on at Washies always seemed a little better and more organized with her around.

She was an angel, and I know her son Michael will attest to that. Knowing him as long as I have, I know he ran her a little ragged over the years but through her love he turned out to be a good man, having served this borough along with his brother John and their father Jack at Washies Firehouse. Jean worked with the local ambulance as well as just about every event that Washies put on over the years. It’s a tough thing…. hearing the fire alarm go off and not only does your husband run out the door to respond but also your two sons. You have no idea what is going on at the location, if all of them are coming home or not from any given fire call.

I will give the moms of her generation a lot of credit. A number of us Conshy kids could have turned out very differently if not for the love and guidance of our moms, moms like Jean McGrath.

Before I share her official obituary. I will have to say this, and this isn’t a political thing at all. If anyone from the borough of Conshohocken reads this, please do the right thing and have a Washington Fire Truck available to the family for her services. It’s the right thing to do. Jean and her family have given everything to this borough and the fire company and it will be a damn shame if the political football that is the future of the Washies Firehouse get in the way of a final farewell.

Here is the official obituary:

Obituary of Regina M. McGrath

Regina M. McGrath, 69, of Gilbertsville, PA passed away on Friday, August 16, 2019.

She was born in Norristown, PA on August 20, 1949, the daughter of the late William J. Moran, III and Kathryn (Kirkpatrick) Moran.

Jean has been living in Gilbertsville since 2013, formerly of Conshohocken, PA, where she was a member of St. Matthew’s RC Church. Jean was a member of the last graduating class of the former St. Matthew’s High School.  She worked for 18 years with AON and later worked with Specialty Risk of King of Prussia. Jean was a life member of the Washington Fire Co., life member of Narberth Ambulance, and the Montgomery County Fire Marshall Association. 

Jean is survived by her husband, John “Jack” McGrath of Gilbertsville; two sons, Michael (& Lisa) McGrath of Gilbertsville and John McGrath of Boyertown; three sisters, Eileen (& David) Lapps, Peggy (& Tom) Rubando and Kathryn (& Robert) Major. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Thressa (& Ivan), Ayden, Kylie, John Jr., Brenna, Kaylen and Declan; her great grandson, Ivan; as well as many nieces and nephews. 

Along with her parents, Jean was preceded in death by her brother, William J. Moran, IV. 

Her Funeral Mass will be held Thursday, August 22, 2019 at 10:30 AM from St. Matthew’s RC Church, 219 Fayette Street, Conshohocken, PA 19428. Relatives and friends are invited to the viewing Wednesday evening from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and Thursday morning from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at the Moore, Snear & Ruggiero Funeral Home, 300 Fayette Street, Conshohocken, PA 19428.

Interment will take place in George Washington Memorial Park, Plymouth Meeting, PA.