Born in East Cambridge on February 28, 1934, she was the daughter of the late Albert F. and Sally (Perry) Dunnam. She was raised as part of a vibrant Portuguese community in Cambridge and enjoyed her childhood visits to several farms in Concord and Lincoln that were owned and operated by her Portuguese relatives.

Shortly after her graduation from the Cambridge Latin High School, the family moved from Cambridge to Bedford in 1952, where she met her future husband, John M. McMahan. The couple was married at St. Michael's Church on February 14, 1954, living and raising their four children over the span of 60+ years together in Bedford.

Mrs. McMahan was a very talented homemaker who was passionate about cooking and experimenting with new recipes. Her favorite pastime was reading through her various cooking magazines in search of the next best recipe. She was also a very talented seamstress, making her children's outfits for many special occasions and holidays.

She was a daily communicant at St. Michael's Parish in Bedford and served as a Eucharistic Minister at the 9:00 A.M. Mass for many years. She was also an active member of the St. Michael's Women's Club, and enjoyed the various church events that they sponsored.

Mrs. McMahan was also a member of the Bedford Council on Aging and enjoyed playing bridge with COA members and participating in COA activities. She also liked doing jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles and spending time with her family.

She was the beloved wife of the late John M. McMahan who died in 2014, the devoted mother of Patricia Barriss and her late husband, David of Bedford, Pamela Bennett and her husband, Richard of Merrimack, NH, Laura LaPoint and her husband, Joseph of Clarendon Springs, VT and John M. McMahan Jr. of Bedford, loving grandmother of Stephen, Kevin and Mark Bennett of NH and Paige Elizabeth LaPoint of VT, cherished sister of the late Ruth Pike, and dear sister-in-law of Ruth McDonnell of Bedford and Theresa Eaton of Lexington. She also leaves many nieces and nephews.

Funeral from the Bedford Funeral Home, 167 Great Rd., Bedford, on Fri., June 1, at 9:00 A.M. followed by a funeral Mass in St. Michael Church, 90 Concord Rd., Bedford, at 10:00 A.M. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, May 31, from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 P.M.

Interment will be in Shawsheen Cemetery in Bedford.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael's Parish, 90 Concord Rd., Bedford, MA 01730.