Gretchen McCarthy, 86, a longtime resident of Riverside, died on April 26, 2026. Born in New York City in 1939. She lived in Pennsylvania and then moved to the Midwest. A student and graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she met her husband, Thomas McCarthy, there and, upon graduation, moved to Ludwigsburg, Germany to marry because Thomas was in the Army, stationed in Stuttgart. Their first daughter, Magan, was born there. After his military discharge, they moved back to the States and lived in Berwyn for a number of years. Their second daughter, Seania, was born there. In 1972 the family moved to Riverside, and she remained in the same house on Scottswood Road for the next 50 years.
She had many creative jobs: Christmas window designer at the State Street Marshall Field store in Chicago, cake designer at Wilton Enterprises, and then for decades was known as the Little Homemaker, creating miniature sculptures of homes and buildings all around Chicagoland, including Riverside landmarks.
She was an avid traveler, reader, swimmer, gardener and art aficionado. She loved to cook, bake and entertain. Her beautiful smile would light up any room. She had a sense of humor was bar none and was the life of the party. She was known for sitting on her front porch and waving to the neighbors.
Gretchen is survived by her daughters, Magan and Seania McCarthy, and her grandchildren, Aedan, Rowan, Liam and Cale. She was predeceased by her husband Thomas.
A celebration of Gretchen’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 13, at Riverside Presbyterian Church, 116 Barrypoint Road, Riverside. Reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org).
Funeral services were handled by Ivins/Moravecek Funeral Home, www.moravecek.com.