Francis Xavier McGrath, Sr.

Fran was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. He was the son of Irish immigrants, Catherine and William. Fran was the oldest of seven brothers, whom he adored…Fr. William J. McGrath ""Fr. Bill,"" Joseph (Kate), James (Peggy) and sister-in-law Nancy survive him. He joins his brothers Martin (Joan), Tommy (Josie), and John ""Jack"" in heaven. When Fran was 18, his father died. To support the family, Fran worked in a munitions factory during WWII while going to college at St. Joseph's University on a basketball scholarship. Dad was varsity captain of the team. He met his beloved Patty on the basketball court of a popular Philadelphia rec center. After courting for a year, Fran and Patty married on November 19, 1949. Their children, Fran Jr., Karen, Kevin, Dennis, Christopher, Sarah ""Sally"", and the late baby Michael Vincent were born in different states throughout the US. Though he and Patty moved west, Fran often drove the family station wagon back east to visit the extended McGrath and Murray/Donahue relatives. Fran loved to see his and Patty's dear mothers, Patty's father, their brothers, sisters-in-law, cousins, and many beloved nieces and nephews. Fran worked for Philco in sales and marketing. Each time he received a promotion, he also received a transfer to a different state. After moving fourteen times with Philco, Fran switched companies and worked for Polaris snowmobiles in Minnesota. His family loved the two snowmobiles they were allowed to use each winter! During his next position in commercial window sales, Fran provided historically accurate updates in such buildings as the Golden Dome at the University of Notre Dame. Fran worked throughout his retirement years as an organizer of capital fundraising campaigns for many churches across the country. Fran visited all fifty states during his years in sales and was one of the first to earn a Million Mile air traveler designation. Fran and Patty loved to travel, and particularly enjoyed trips to Hawaii, Spain, and Morocco. Their audience with Pope John Paul II in Rome, 1983, was the highlight of their travels. Fran and Patty taught their children to love God's grandeur, especially the Rocky Mountains and the Grand Canyon. They instilled the value of education, and encouraged an appreciation of the arts, history, and theology. During the '70s, Fran took his children to see the first Van Gogh exhibit outside of the Netherlands at the Philadelphia Art Museum. Fran valued family and faith above all else. He was devoted to the Catholic Church and was a member of Serra International for over forty years. He attended annual silent retreats each year at Demontreville Jesuit Retreat House in MN. He held his childhood parish, the Gesu, close to his heart throughout his life. He was forever grateful to the Jesuit priests who helped his family after his father's untimely death. Fran loved Our Lady of Grace in Edina, MN, and treasured the many friends he left there. He also loved his parish since 2006, Most Precious Blood. Fran Jr. drove Dad to Mass each Sunday. Fran's favorite saying was ""Family times are the best times."" He enjoyed seeing his children get married and become parents. He cherished his 19 grandchildren…Briana, Ryan (fiancé Megan), Sean, Erin (John), Peter (Anandee), Matthew, Kristin (Ed), Kevin, Tim, Brian (Libby), Molly, Michael, Madeline, Meaghan (Kyle), Amy (Brady), Patrick, Darcy (Jake), Ryan, and Brendan. They were his greatest blessings. He loved and was grateful for his daughters-in-law Christy, Anne, and Carolyn, former daughter-in-law Christine, son-in-law Tom, daughter-in-law Cindi, and former son-in-law Ray. And he was thrilled when the grandchildren brought him even more blessings…great-grandchildren Isabella, Dallin, Emily, Sarah, John Michael, Daniel, Adrian, Ashlyn, Alex, Patrick, Maddi, Ryan, Caroline, and Ellie Grace who was just born last week. Fran would have celebrated his 65th wedding Anniversary with Patty this November. After Patty was stricken with Alzheimer's over ten years ago, Fran embodied the true meaning of their wedding vows, ""in sickness and in health; in good times and in bad."" He cared for her for many years at home, and fed her lunch and dinner every day after she moved to Shalom Park Nursing Home. He loved to sit outside and look at the mountains with Patty each afternoon. He cared deeply for the Shalom Park staff, for Rabbi Steven and Rabbi David, and for the wonderful volunteers from St. Michael's Parish. One of Patty's caregivers, Desta, was like family to Fran. Fran's family surrounded him when he breathed his last breath. His passing leaves many broken hearts, but his family and friends find comfort knowing that he is with God, whom he served so well and loved so deeply. Funeral Mass will be on Thursday, September 25, 10:30 AM at Most Precious Blood, 2200 S Harrison St (and Colorado Blvd), Denver, CO 80210. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; Catholic Charities, 4045 Pecos St, Denver, CO 80211; and Shalom Park Nursing Home, 14800 E Belleview Dr, Aurora, CO 80015. Please share your memories of Fran, Sr. by selecting the Guestbook link below.