Caryl (McGrody) McDonnell, 80, of Media, PA, passed away at Riddle Hospital on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

Caryl was born in Philadelphia, PA, on May 24, 1946. The daughter of Isabelle and Bob (Robert) McGrody, she spent her childhood in the greater Philadelphia area, as well as a few years in Pittsburgh. The family settled back in Media, PA, when Caryl was 15. She attended Archbishop Prendergast High School, where she was an exceptional student. Caryl went on to study nursing at Villanova University, graduating in 1968.

Caryl's years post-graduation were spent in Philadelphia as a nurse, living on Lombard St. and in Queen Village. She loved purchasing rum baba from the Italian bakeries, a passion she maintained throughout her life. In her early 20s, she planned to work abroad as a nurse on an Army base in Germany. When she was unable to secure two positions (for herself and her friend Clare) on the same base, the two went traveling around Europe for several weeks until their money ran out. She would share the memories of these travels with her children over the years.

She met her husband, Randall McDonnell, while he was a student at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and they married in Sept. 1974, after his graduation. The newlyweds moved to Boston, where both began working at Mass General Hospital. The family spent a few years in Winchester and Hingham, Massachusetts, where Randall Jr. and Elizabeth were born. After Randall Jr.'s arrival, Caryl retired from nursing to dedicate herself to raising her family. They later moved to the Midwest (Okemos, MI, and St. John, IN) for Randall's career. This is where Anne, her youngest, who also shares a birthday with Caryl, was born.

The McDonnells returned to Massachusetts in 1995, moving to Stoneham and attending St. Joseph's Parish in Wakefield. Caryl would remain there until 2018, two years after the death of Randall Sr. She returned to the Philadelphia area, living in Drexel Hill and, finally, Media.

Caryl possessed a deep curiosity that fed a lifelong love of learning, as demonstrated by the tens of thousands of bookmarks on her computer for "articles she HAD to come back to." This curiosity also compelled her to try new things, something she delighted in sharing with her children. Caryl was an avid reader and passed her passion for reading on to her family, inspiring deep loyalty to classics like Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, and the Wizard of Oz series. She loved music, playing everything from Rodgers and Hammerstein to Earth, Wind & Fire. Although she often claimed not to enjoy cooking, her delicious meals are remembered by extended family and friends, particularly her roast chicken. To be in Caryl's presence was to be cared for.

Caryl is especially remembered for her ability to take joy in the simplest of life's pleasures, whether it was a freshly baked sticky bun or a broken flower blossom she had salvaged and placed in a recycled diced peaches cup. Caryl made an art form of appreciating life's small wonders.

Caryl was a gentle, kind soul who touched all who came in contact with her. Patient and caring, Caryl was a generous listener, extending time and space to anyone who might need it. She was a devoted Catholic who found ways to continue to practice her faith even in the face of limited mobility.

In her honor, may we all find joy in a sticky bun, a salvaged blossom, and the simple gifts of each day.

She was predeceased by her parents, Isabelle and Robert; her brother, Jim; and her husband, Randall. She is loved and missed by her sister, Sue (Steve) Nitz; her children, Randall Jr. (Brooke), Elizabeth, and Anne (Omoz); her grandchildren, Ethan, Caroline, and Brandon; her grand-cat, Randall III; and her grand-dog, Penny.

A viewing will be held on Monday, Oct. 5, from 10 to 11 a.m. at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, PA, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Springfield, PA, and all are welcome to join the family for a memorial luncheon afterward; details will be shared at the Mass.

Arrangements provided by:  Rigby Harting & Hagan Funeral Home  15 E 4th Street  Media, PA 19063