Juanita McCarthy

Juanita McCarthy, 89 of Chesterfield, MO, passed away peacefully and with a calm presence on December 14, 2024, at de Greeff Hospice House in St. Louis, MO.

Born June 17, 1935, in East St Louis, IL, she was the second child and first daughter to Isabella and John McCarthy. Juanita attended high school at St. Teresa’s Academy in the Class of 1952. She graduated with a Chemistry degree from St. Louis University in 1956. She has a Masters degree in Library Science from UNC, and an MBA from SLU. She worked as a Chemical Librarian for both Monsanto and Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals. She settled in Chesterfield, MO where she retired.

Throughout her life, she enjoyed traveling to foreign countries and especially loved Barcelona, Rome, Paris, and South America. She was a gifted golfer, bridge player, and loved finding new restaurants! To her friends she was gregarious, kind, and giving. She had a strong faith and a generous spirit. To her family she was generous, intelligent, and fun-loving. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers: John and Tom McCarthy; a sister, Judy McCarthy; and a sister-in-law, Marynelle McCarthy.

Juanita is survived by a sister, Bernice McCarthy; a sister-in-law, Janis McCarthy; three nephews: Mike (Kristan) McCarthy, Tom (Teresa) McCarthy and Jack (Margie) McCarthy; two nieces: Kathleen Goeller and Diane (David) Caputo; and numerous great nieces and nephews.

Juanita’s body was donated to the Saint Louis University School of Medicine for the advancement of science. 

A memorial mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at Ascension Catholic Church, 230 Santa Maria Dr, Chesterfield, MO 63005 with Rev. Monsignor Patrick Hambrough celebrant.

Memorials may be made in Juanita’s honor to the St. Vincent De Paul Society or the Ascension School Fund and will be received at Barry Wilson Funeral Home, 2800 N. Center Street, Maryville, IL 62062.

Obit Provided By:
Barry Wilson Funeral Home & Cremation Services