Rev Edward D. McCabe of Boston and Plympton, MA, 83, died 9/21/2026 at Regina Cleri Residences, Boston, MA.
Born in Boston on September 25,1942, Fr. McCabe was the son of the late Bernard A. McCabe and the late Mary Eva (Lynch) McCabe. He graduated from Boston College High School and then attended St. John’s Seminary. Fr. McCabe was ordained a priest on May 29, 1968 at Cathedral of the Holy Cross by Richard Cardinal Cushing.
Following his ordination Fr. McCabe began pastoral work at parishes in Boston Archdiocese. Some of those assignments included Most Blessed Sacrament Parish in Wakefield, Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish in Hull, Saint Margaret’s Parish, Burlington, Saint Joseph-Saint Lazarus, East Boston. He then became Pastor of Saint Ann’s Parish in West Bridgewater until his retirement in 2016. Fr. McCabe also worked in prison ministry at Massachusetts Correctional Facility, Bridgewater. ( a maximum security prison).
Fr. McCabe was commissioned a Chaplain in the Massachusetts Army National Guard in May, 1972. In 1995 he interrupted his pastoral work to begin a 16 year active duty career as US Army Chaplain with assignments that took him all over the world. Some of those assignments included Battalion Chaplain, HHC HQ 101 Engineering Battalion, Reading, Ma, Force Chaplain to Multinational Forces & Observers, Sinai, Egypt, with service in Israel, Saudi Arabia & Jordan. Also Theater Chaplain, Headquarters in Taszar, Hungary with service in Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. In January, 2008 he was assigned to Multi-National Corps, Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also served as Garrison Chaplain, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. His final Chaplain assignment was Fort Hood, Texas. He retired from the military in 2011 with the rank of Colonel.
Throughout his career he also served as Chaplain for the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts with Headquarters at Faneuil Hall, Boston. He accompanied the Command Staff and membership in diplomatic visitations throughout the world, including, Australia, Brazil, India, the People’s Republic of China, South Africa, and Vatican City State.
Fr. McCabe is survived by brothers Kevin McCabe of New York, NY and Philip J. McCabe of Naples, FL and his sister Maryellen McCabe of Sutton, NH, also his nephews, Joseph McCabe and Philip McCabe of Naples, Fl. He was predeceased by his brother Stephen A. McCabe of Boston, MA.
His family would like to thank the dedicated and loving care he received from all the staff of Regina Cleri Residences as well as Care Dimensions Hospice and Palliative Care Staff.
The funeral mass was held in St. Agatha’s Church 432 Adams St., Milton on Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at 10:00 AM. Interment followed in the Hillcrest Cemetery in Plympton.
Donations in memory of Fr. McCabe may be made to Clergy Trust 66 Brooks Drive, Braintree MA or Care Dimensions.
