LYNN — The McGee family kept services for former Speaker of the House Thomas W. McGee private, but arrangements have been made for a public farewell to be held Saturday at St. Mary’s Parish.
“We are expecting a very large turnout,” said David Solimine Sr., of the Solimine, Landergan & Richardson Funeral Homes.
McGee died Friday, Dec. 21 at the age of 88 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.
A veteran of World War II and the political world, he was the longest serving speaker in the history of the commonwealth’s House of Representatives.
Solimine said newly elected U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren was set to be sworn into office Saturday morning but postponed the ceremony to the afternoon so people could attend both events.
The memorial Mass for McGee is to be held at St. Mary’s Church, 8 South Common St. at 11 a.m. with visitation from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
With limited parking at the parish, Solimine has laid out 10 additional areas where visitors could park.
“Most are courtesy of the mayor,” Solimine added.
Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy will open the municipal lots in the area of City Hall, which is across the street from the church, Solimine said.
The lots include 3, 4 and 5 and the City Hall lot, all off Johnson Street, which is behind City Hall. The small lot tucked between City Hall and the Verizon Building will be open, as well as another small lot at St. Mary’s High School off Pleasant Street.
Solimine said officials at St. George Greek Orthodox Church and St. Stephen’s Memorial Episcopal Church, both on South Common have volunteered their lots and Fecteau-Leary High School, the former Classical High School, which has lots on either side of its North Common building, will be available for parking.
The Salvation Army and the School Administration buildings, both just around the corner on Franklin Street, will also be open for parking.
For those that don’t mind the walk, Solimine noted there is a parking garage located at the corner of Market and Broad streets just off the Lynnway. Those arriving by train can also expect a bit of a walk.
Solimine said he wanted to have established parking because he expects there will be a large number of people from outside the city attending.
“We’re going to have a lot of people coming in that won’t know where to go,” he said. “It’s good to have this laid out, and we’ll have a big sign up at St. George’s. That will be the main spot for people coming in”
Chris Stevens can be reached at [email protected].
