Megan's Life to be Celebrated Saturday, Large Turnout Expected

A public celebration of life will be held for Megan Sheehy on Saturday, a chance for the Marblehead community to remember the 14-year who garnered community-wide support as she battled a rare disease.

It is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 23 at 2 p.m., at the Old North Church, 35 Washington St., according to a joint message from the Eustis and Cornell Funeral Home and the Marblehead Police.

“Given how many people Megan has touched, the gathering is expected to be well attended,” the announcement stated.

Sheehy was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer known as Osteosarcoma and died on Aug. 9. During the past few months, hundreds of blue ribbons popped up at locations all over Marblehead showing support for her. And last month, Sheehy and several close friends had a police-escorted limousine drive to Marblehead Neck that ended with a showing of “Pitch Perfect” at Warwick Cinema that was arranged by the Make A Wish Foundation. Hundreds of residents lined the streets as her limousine passed, holding blue balloons and signs of support.

In order to accommodate all the expected guests at the Saturday service, special parking arrangements have been announced and extra police officers will be available to help.

To start, anyone who lives close to the church is encouraged to walk because “parking will be at a premium in that area of town,” according to the statement.

The Old North Church parking lot at 8 Stacey Street will be available. The entrance is from Washington Street and the exit is onto Franklin Street.

The Quillen family, owners of Bartlett’s Garage at 1 Stacey St., have made their parking area available at the rear of the auto body garage.

The Marblehead School Department has made parking available at the Gerry Elementary School, 50 Elm Street. Cars will be allowed to park in the lower playground on the Elm Street side of the building and in the school lot on Mechanic Square.

The Philanthropic Lodge of Masons at 62 Pleasant St. will have its side and lower parking lots open.

The Marblehead Community Charter Public School, which Sheehy’s attended, will have its parking lot open at 17 Lime St. plus its parking lot at 200 Hoods Lane - slightly behind the school.

The Eustis and Cornell Funeral home parking lot at 142 Elm St. will also available and open for use.

It is also possible the MBTA bus route will need to be altered in the afternoon. If it has to be changed, an announcement will be made.

The service is expected to last a little longer than an hour.

Photo from Eustis and Cornell Funeral home.