Philomena Cates of Prosper, Texas passed away on January 4, 2020 at the age of 94. She was born on December 6, 1925 to William and Mary (Malon) McGrath in Belfast, Ireland. Philomena was one of 15 children. As a young adult, Philomena travelled on a ship for two weeks to Tasmania where she lived approximately ten years there. In 1962, she made her way to Texas where she met George McGlawn Cates. They married on August 16, 1986 in Dallas, Texas. George treated her like a princess. Philomena enjoyed life with her loving husband.
She is survived by her children, Veronica Heathcock of Prosper, Texas and Sean Heap of Allen, Texas; grandsons, Jason McSperitt of Dallas, Texas, Michael Cummings, and Marc Cummings both of the Dallas area; great granddaughter, Lexi McSperitt of The Colony, Texas; sisters, Veronica Reinhart of Fairhope, Alabama and Bridie Knight of England; and numerous other loving family and friends.
Philomena was preceded in death by her parents, William and Mary McGrath; husband, George Cates; daughter-in-law, Mary Heap; and siblings, Desmond McGrath, Agnes Dorn, Maureen Cain, Sean McGrath, Patrick McGrath, Gerry McGrath, Jim McGrath, Bernadette Boyle, Rita McGrath, William McGrath, and Delores McGrath.
The family will receive friends during a rosary service on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas. A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 10, 2020 at St. Gabriel The Archangel 110 St. Gabriel Way, McKinney, Texas. Interment will follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park in Allen, Texas.