Esther Lee (Waddell) McCarthy

Esther Lee (Waddell) McCarthy passed away peacefully at home in Jupiter, Florida on October 24th, 2025, surrounded by family.  She was four days away from her 77^th birthday and had battled ovarian cancer for 12 months.  Lee was born in Albany, Georgia and spent most of her early childhood in Albany and Thomasville, Georgia, as well as Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.  Her parents, Mary McCormick and William L. Waddell, moved to New York when she was in middle school and she later attended Staples High School in West Port, Connecticut.   

Lee’s mother passed away shortly after the move to New York, so Lee continued to spend summers with her maternal grandmother Addie McCormick in Thomasville.  Her Father eventually remarried to Mary McGuinness, and Lee the “only child” became the best big sister to Mary Anne Waddell Sutter and Mary Elizabeth Waddell Sadd.  

In keeping with family tradition, Lee attended the University of Georgia, as she was a 5^th generation direct line descendant of UGA President Moses Waddell, who served from 1819-1829.   After graduating in 1969 with a BA in Foreign Languages, Lee accepted a job with TWA as an international flight attendant. She spoke fluent Spanish, French, and Italian and became proficient in Galic.  On her very first flight, she met her soul mate and amazing husband Declan McCarthy.  Deck was from County Cork Ireland and immigrated to the Unites States in his early 20’s.  He also worked for TWA in catering/food service procurement.  He happened to be on a return flight from Ireland to New York when they met, and they never separated after that meeting.  Lee and Deck were married in the Vatican in 1971 by Deck’s brother Father Sean McCarthy.  They made the most of their flight benefits by literally traveling around the world for their honeymoon, and quite frankly for their entire marriage.   They first resided in Massapequa, NY, and soon had additional residences in Spain and Cork Ireland.  They later moved to Jupiter, Fl in the early 1990’s where they continued to enjoy international travel, golf, and the Irish community.  After a successful 25-year career as a flight attendant, Lee became a luxury travel planner

Unfortunately, Lee lost her beloved Declan in 2005.  Shortly after his death she shifted away from her travel planning business and dedicated her life to serving others.  She helped open the doors to El Sol for the very first time, literally turning the Key on its first day.  She later served as a Volunteer Coordinator and member of El Sol’s Board of Directors, helping shape the welcoming, empowering community that El Sol is today.  While volunteering at El Sol, Lee miraculously met her sons!  Jesus Alberto Perez Cholotio McCarthy and Luis Migel Cholotio Garcia.  Her initial intention was to help the boys get enrolled in Jupiter High School for an education, only to turn around and find herself a mother at age in 2008.   She also ensured the education and adoption of Ishmael Villatoro Constantino.

 Lee absolutely LOVED being a mother to these young boys, who came from very sparse beginnings and didn’t speak English. She ensured they became well educated and filled with the proper etiquette her father taught her.  While Luis moved back to Guatemala after college, Jesus remained in Jupiter.  He is now a business owner of McCarthy Painting and Services, a husband to Yeimy Herrera and father of Derick, Dylan and Sophia McCarthy Herrera.  She loved nothing more than spending time with her children and grandchildren.   

While she thought she had ‘retired’, Lee realized after becoming a mother that she needed a full-time job, and was blessed to find employment with Doctor William J. Gogan as Patient Coordinator.  She loved her time working with the Gogan’s and supporting their business with her unique organizational skills.

Lee continued to travel, nearly every year on a fun sister trip with Mary Elizabeth and took her sons on many trips around the US and the world, sharing her love of exploration and lifelong learning of new cultures and new places. 

In Lieu of flowers Lee please consider a donation to El Sol at  Donate – El Sol

We will celebrate her life with a mass on January 10, 2026 at 10am at St. Peter Catholic Church 1701 Indian Creek Parkways, Jupiter, FL 33458 followed by a reception at the home of her Son, Jesus and his wife Yeimy.