Marcia Ann Rafferty

Marcia Anne Rafferty, 93, passed away peacefully in the loving arms of her daughter Megan on Friday May 15, 2020, in Albuquerque, NM.

Marcia considered herself a native Houstonian. Hilshire Village was her home for over 60 years until she moved to Albuquerque to live with her daughter in 2017. Marcia was a longtime parishioner of St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church. She loved gardening, swimming, knitting, reading, praying the rosary, but mostly she loved her family and friends. She also loved to laugh and look on the bright side. Moreover, she enjoyed a spirited debate, and she was known to switch sides if necessary.

Marcia was born on August 24, 1926 in Batavia, NY to John and Martha Maloney. She grew up in an Irish Catholic household alongside her older brothers John and Bobby and her younger sister Mary Pat. She attended Batavia High School where she cultivated great friendships and a love for music and writing. Having studied piano for many years, she received a scholarship to Julliard in NYC upon her graduation in 1944. She decided that she would instead attend Mundelein College, a Roman Catholic Women’s University in Chicago, Ill. She received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Mundelein. She considered Medical School, but she was told upon applying that, although she qualified, she should give her spot to a soldier returning from the war. She began working at Baxter Labs in Chicago, Illinois.

Marcia loved to swim, and so her passion took her many weekends to North Avenue Beach. There she met a bright and handsome man from Kentucky. They only met because her radio was broken, but when he quickly fixed it, their amazing relationship began. Joe Rafferty and Marcia were married in 1950 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Evanston. Together, they left the comforts and “establishment” of Chicago to go on an adventurous honeymoon in a red and white convertible through Old Mexico. They settled in a duplex in Houston, Texas which was as close to the Wild West as you could get at the time. Here they began to raise an amazing family. Courage, vision, and an abiding love and devotion brought them together and will keep them together for a blessed eternity.

Marcia and Joe built a wonderful life in Houston and over the years they had six children, many dogs, and a pool. It was not always easy, but together they felt it was rewarding. They loved their children dearly, but they always let it be known that they loved each other first. Their children played football, marched on the drill team, ran track and did well academically. Sadly in 1971, Joe Rafferty died unexpectedly, and Marcia was left to raise her 6 kids alone. She went back to work and did just that. She was fiercely independent, resilient, and committed to her children and their future. Once secured, she then was able to explore her own interests in retirement.

Marcia is preceded in death by her parents, brothers John and Bobby, her beloved husband, and her loving son Joe. She leaves behind her daughter Coleen, Martha and her husband Todd Berry, Carrie and her husband Jeff Medeiros, her daughter-in-law Susan Rafferty of Houston, TX, her daughter Megan of Albuquerque, NM, and her son Michael and his wife Kim Rafferty of New Orleans, LA. Her wonderful grandchildren are Danielle Rafferty, Alex and Emily Rafferty, and Christina and Caroline Medeiros. She also leaves behind her sister MaryPat Hancock of Rochester, NY, who has four children and many wonderful grandchildren.

Our family would like to thank Megan Rafferty for her love and devotion to Marcia. Thank you for uprooting your life, and for all the countless hours and sleepless nights you spent to ensure she was healthy and happy. We are all so grateful. Our family would also like to thank the Albuquerque Hospice Team for their kindness and support.

A graveside service at Memorial Oaks Cemetery will take place in Houston, TX.

Our family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Marcia Rafferty’s name to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Houston.