Frances Ellen McVey - Obituary

MPORTANT UPDATE: Due to inclement weather, the January 26 Mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church has been CANCELED. Mass of Christian Burial will now be offered on FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6 at 10 am St Patrick Catholic Church, 619 Tenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001. Frances Ellen Smith McVey passed away on January 7 2026 at the age of 97. She was born in Washington, D.C. on April 10, 1928, the daughter of Nellie Turner Smith and Milton L. G. Smith. They lived in the Fairlawn area of South East, Washington, D.C. on Nicholson St., and were members of St. Francis Xavier Church. Frances attended St. Patrick’s Academy, graduating in 1946, with three of her daughters following Frances at her Alma Mater. She met her future husband, James Henry McVey, Jr., the brother of her classmate and friend. Jim and Frances married in September 1949, and went on to have 10 children between 1950 and 1973, remaining in the Washington, D.C. area. Devoting most of her life to motherhood and the children’s activities and needs, she would often laugh over how many gallons of milk she bought and trying to remember who wanted what in their school lunch each day. She participated in many activities supporting Holy Family in Hillcrest Heights, MD, Bishop McNamara High School in Forestville, MD, and St. John’s in Clinton, MD, while the children attended the schools. Frances and Jim made holidays special, filling the house with extended family, mountains of good food, and lots of love. Following the passing of her husband, Jim in 1979, she divided her time between her homes in Clinton, MD and the Rehoboth Beach, DE area. Enjoying her strolls on the boardwalk and creating vacation memories for the children and grandchildren, she moved to beach full-time in her later years. In addition to her parents, Frances was pre-deceased by her siblings, Nina, James, and Mary; her husband, James; her sons, Michael and Brian McVey; and her son-in-law, William Milligan. Frances is survived by her children, James H. McVey, III (Phillis), Dennis McVey (Amy), Anne McVey, Joan McClure (Bill), Susan Flowers (Norris), Patrick McVey (Angie), Sharon McVey Davis, and John McVey (Judy); her daughter-in-law, Gwenyth Davis; her former daughter-in-law, Cora Shorter McVey; 18 grandchildren, Megan Coughlin, James H. McVey, IV, Hannah McVey, Janice Jacobs, Katrina Worrel, Betsy Colacicco, Kevin McVey, Ryan Milligan, Sean Milligan, Colleen Allen, Brendan McClure, Mollie Daniel, Sarah Trostle, Finn Davis, Sadie Davis, Rowan Harvey, Kayla McVey, and Emma McVey; 25 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Her legacy of dedication to family, and strength and resiliency in times of adversity lives on through her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all who her were blessed to know her. The family is grateful for the care she received over the last five years from the staff of the Seaford Center of Seaford, DE and hospice team who kept her comfortable in her final days. April and Beverly at the Seaford Center were particularly kind and attentive to Frances throughout her stay, especially in her time need. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the charity of your choice supporting our men and women in the military. IMPORTANT UPDATE: Due to inclement weather, the January 26 Mass at St. Patrick Catholic Church has been CANCELED. Mass of Christian Burial will now be offered on FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6 at 10 am St Patrick Catholic Church, 619 Tenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001. Frances will be reunited in her final resting place with her husband, Jim, with burial at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Online condolences may be made using the Memories tab on this page.