Julia Mary (Duggan) McCabe
Orbituary
Julia Mary (Duggan) McCabe, of Simsbury, Connecticut, passed away peacefully at home with her loving family caring for her until her end on June 26, 2025, at the age of 87.
Born on June 7, 1938, in Claraghatlea, Millstreet, County Cork, Ireland, Julia was proud of her Irish roots and carried the values of her homeland, faith, family, and resilience throughout her life. She immigrated to New York where she met Myles McCabe, the love of her life, at an Irish dance. They were married for 64 years and raised their three children, John (Lisa), Mary (Paul Zinone), and Catherine (John Jahne) in the small town of Pleasantville, NY.
Julia worked various jobs throughout her life, but it was her and Myles’ retirement project, restoring The Linden House into a magnificent B&B, that brought them to Simsbury, CT. Julia was known for her generous spirit—whether preparing meals for Comitas, making sandwiches for the homeless, or volunteering at The Second Chance Shop. However, her most treasured role was being “Nana” to her beloved grandchildren: Melissa, William, Emerson, Owen, Myles, and Aidan. Her home was always filled with laughter, love, games of hide and seek, and the smell of a home-cooked meals—hallmarks of her enduring generosity and grace.
Julia will be remembered for her gentle spirit, her unwavering support for those she loved, her giving heart, profound faith, and her deep sense of compassion. Her legacy lives on in the hearts of her family and all who had the privilege of knowing her.
We would like to thank Dr. DeFusco and Dr. Bertsch, Julia’s doctors, whose care and compassion went above and beyond during her illness. We are also especially grateful to Fr. Michael Whyte—her priest, friend, and confidant—whose support guided both Julia and Myles through this journey. Special thanks to McLean Hospice, especially her nurses Cassandra and Jenny, and her social worker Leah. They made it possible for Julia to be cared for at home and supported her and her family in countless ways.
The calling hours will be Monday, June 30, 2025, at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury, CT from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Catherine of Siena, 265 Stratton Brook Road in West Simsbury, CT on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at 11:00 AM, followed by a small reception in Russell Hall at St. Catherine’s. A private burial will be later. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Julia’s memory to: St. Catherine’s of Siena Church, The Village for Families & Children, The Knights of Columbus, McLean Hospice, The CT Humane Society, or St. Jude’s Hospital. Please visit Julia’s Book of Memories at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online tributes.
Her brother Francis whom are residing in Australia wrote this poem in 2008 about his sister
Julia Mary Mccabe
Poem by Francis Duggan
In our family Julia Mary and Sheila are one of the same
She is Duggan by birth and McCabe now by name
Kind and generous she would help you if she could
We feel proud of our Sheila in her so much good.
More than four decades ago she married Myles McCabe from Monaghan in New York far away
From her Hometown of Millstreet and her Homeplace of Claraghatlea
A good mother to John, Mary and Catherine and to Myles a good wife
We feel proud of our Sheila and her achievements in life.
On June the seventh she celebrates her seventieth a milestone birthday
She deserves to be feted and of her one can say
That she is one who has passed the good person test
As a wife, mother and Grandmother one of the best.
Her praises do surely deserve to be sung
The eldest of the girls of our family I still see her as young
And young in my memory she will always remain
Cycling to Millstreet convent in the wind and the rain.
Named after our paternal Grandmother Julia in Lisnaboy
Her young years in Claraghatlea she did enjoy
She is the eldest of the girls of our family
Our sister Julia Mary still Sheila to me.
