In Memoriam
Below is the death notice of Nancy Petras, Wife of Joseph Petras, Class of 1968, Sister-in-law of St. Edward High School Trustee, James Petras, Class of 1970. Please keep the Petras family in your prayers.
Nancy Raleigh McVay Petras, of Plymouth, MA, sadly passed away on Monday, May 1, 2023, after a long and courageous battle with lung cancer with family members at her side. She was 69.
Nancy grew up in Springfield MA, the second youngest in a family of seven children. Even at an early age we knew that Nancy was special. She had a huge and generous heart and a warm captivating kind caring “angelic” way about her. And over the years she became a devout Catholic and adored the Blessed Virgin Mary.
She was great fun to be with and leaves us all with many special memories. She leaves behind many wonderful friends—friendships that she cherished. And even as she faced many challenges in her final months she was always concerned about others.
Nancy was an excellent golfer and was also an accomplished tennis player and skier. Nancy resided in Hingham, MA for many years and while a resident there she was a member of the South Shore Country Club. In more recent years Nancy resided seasonally at Wyndemere in Naples, FL.
She was a graduate of AIC and enjoyed a very successful career…for several years in the IG department with the US Department of Housing & Urban Development, followed by many years working with her then husband Patrick McVay at McVay Medical. Later in her career she was an award-winning realtor with Coldwell Banker and subsequently with William Ravies Real Estate.
Nancy contributed generously of her time—serving as a CCD instructor at St Paul’s Church in Hingham and also as a meals-on-wheels volunteer.
She was predeceased by her father William T. Raleigh, her mother Eleanor Ruth (Mullen) and sisters Maureen Raleigh Busacca and Florence (Billie) Raleigh. Nancy is survived by her husband Joseph R. Petras Jr., her son Brendan R. McVay and his wife Kerry of Hingham as well as three sisters, Susan Anderson of Naples, FL, Pam Mitchell and her husband Tom of Plymouth, MA, Lori Raleigh and her husband John McMorrow of Naples, FL and her brother William (Tom) Raleigh of Hyde Park. She also leaves behind six nieces and nephews, many great nieces, and nephews and her three stepchildren: Lisa Petras and her husband Rob Miller of California, Sara Petras and her long-term partner Shervin Riahi of Watertown, Anna Petras and her husband Mather Eldred of Medfield.
A special thanks to the Norwell Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice care team for their tremendous support.
Following cremation, Nancy will be interred privately in St. Paul’s Cemetery, Hingham.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to greet the family during the memorial visitation on Friday, May 19, 2023, from 8:30-9:30 AM in the Pyne Keohane Funeral Home, 21 Emerald St. (off Central St.), Hingham.
A Memorial Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, May 19, 2023, in St. Paul’s Church, Hingham at 10 AM.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent in Nancy’s name to Norwell Visiting Nurse Association & Hospice, 120 Longwater Dr., Norwell, MA 02061, or Lung Force-American Lung Association, 55 W. Wacker Dr., Suite 1150, Chicago, IL 60601.
Posted on: May 4, 2023
You can view a list of all St. Ed's Alumni who have passed away on our website.
Make a Gift in Honor of Nancy Raleigh McVay Petras
St. Edward High School is humbled by the generosity expressed by our community. Commemorative gifts enable us to empower our students with the knowledge, skills, and Holy Cross values to grow into Christ-like servant leaders. To make a memorial gift, click below.
