Kelly Ann (McCarthy) Del Greco

Kelly Ann (McCarthy) Del Greco, beloved mother, wife, sister, and daughter died on Wednesday, April 26th at the age of 28.
She lived her short life beautifully, faithfully, and courageously with lots of joy and love and with absolutely no regrets. That wonderful life ended with her loving family surrounding her at Brigham and Women's hospital. She was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and even though the cancer did its worst and spread, it never came close to touching her heart or her spirit.
Kelly was a strong, independent woman, who was a fierce competitor. Whether playing Boggle or fighting for her life, she gave everything she had and used all of her determination, passion, and strength.
Born on November 23, 1988, she was the daughter of Daniel and Kara (Wholey) McCarthy. She was blessed to have such great role models, who loved and supported her unconditionally. They enrolled her in Catholic schools, where she gained a strong education in all academic areas and developed her faith.
In 2006, she graduated from St. Louis Elementary School as valedictorian, where she was a dedicated member of the Sunday morning choir, basketball team, and drama club. She attended the Academy of Notre Dame for high school, where she found life-long friends and support in her classmates and in her teachers. During her four years there, Kelly was a twelve-season athlete and MVP of her tennis and basketball teams. She graduated from the Academy in 2006 as salutatorian with the Cardinal Medeiros scholarship to Boston University. Kelly studied elementary education and special education as an undergraduate. She excelled in her classes, on the School of Education's flag-football team, and in BU's Office of Admissions. These and other contributions to BU earned her the prestigious Scarlet Key Award. She graduated magna cum laude. In 2011, she went on to graduate with her Master's in teaching students who are English language learners. She was then offered her dream job of teaching fifth grade at the Lincoln Eliot School in Newton, where she started and ended her career. Kelly's students adored her and she loved them right back.

She was married to Michael Del Greco, with whom she shared four years of marriage. They met at BU and their friendship turned into a love for each other that was even stronger than their pride of being Terriers. The center of Kelly's universe undoubtedly was and, always will be, her precious son, Danny Boy. She felt truly blessed that God chose her to be Danny's mother and she cherished every moment she had with him.
She is survived by her son, Daniel Del Greco, who was her personal ray of sunshine when skies were gray (or pink or blue); her husband, Michael Del Greco; her parents Daniel and Kara (Wholey) McCarthy; her "favorite" sister and best friend, Mary Kate McCarthy; her Grammy, Ann (McShea) McCarthy; her Grandpa, Kevin Wholey; and all of her huge, extended family of the Wholey, McCarthy, and Del Greco clans. She was predeceased by her Nana, June (Sullivan) Wholey, and her Grampy, John McCarthy.
Thank you to all of her family and friends for supporting her, especially in these past few years. She appreciated and loved you all. A special thank you to Dr. Erica Mayer and the whole staff of Dana Farber for their unbelievable treatment and care of her.