Lydia E. McAuliffe

Lydia E. McAuliffe died at home in Chestnut Hill on April 12, 2026, with her two daughters by her side, at the age of 94.

She was born on March 1, 1932, in Germany and raised in the Netherlands. During World War II, Lydia was displaced from her parents due to their involvement with the Dutch resistance, and lived with her grandparents in war-torn Germany. Throughout those years, neither she nor her parents knew if the others had survived. At the end of the war, she was located by the American Red Cross and returned to the Netherlands and reunited with her parents.

After graduating from school in The Hague, where she specialized in foreign trade and languages, Lydia began her professional career using her ability to speak and write Dutch, German, and English fluently. In 1957, she immigrated to the United States under President Eisenhower’s Refugee Relief Act, settling outside Boston. Lydia worked at Jet Spray Corporation, where she played an instrumental role in launching the company’s international operations, helping expand exports to 96 countries while managing export documentation, foreign patents, and global trade activities.

In Boston, she met the love of her life, Robert (“Bob”) McAuliffe, who predeceased her. They married in 1968 and moved to the Philadelphia area, quickly becoming a family of five with Ingrid, Mark (predeceased) and Kirsten. Lydia and Bob shared a deep intellectual and emotional bond, never running out of things to discuss and complementing each other perfectly.

When Bob’s career took the family back to Boston, Lydia accepted a part-time role at Boston College’s new Programs for Women, helping plan, promote, and coordinate academic and workshop offerings. The family later moved to Ridgewood, New Jersey, where Lydia continued her work in the export industry with AFD Industries. They eventually returned to Philadelphia, making Chestnut Hill their home for the remainder of their lives.

Lydia had a deep love of art and studied under Violette de Mazia at the Barnes Foundation. In her younger years she enjoyed playing tennis at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, and in her later years was a fixture on the porch for lunch. She cherished spending time at the family’s cottage in Chatham, Massachusetts. She served as a committee member for the Philadelphia Museum of Art and was one of the original members of the International Women’s Club of Philadelphia, remaining actively involved until the end of her life.

Lydia was striking, elegant, capable, and intelligent, with a quick wit and an appreciation for a well-made Manhattan. She loved reading and engaging in thoughtful discussions about world affairs. With her charismatic personality, few could resist her charm. A natural connector, Lydia delighted in bringing people together. She loved hosting cocktail and dinner parties, and was especially known for her festive Christmas Eve celebrations. Lydia was a great listener, and many sought her advice. She cherished her many friendships and was, in turn, a deeply loyal friend. Her greatest joy and most treasured role was that of “Oma” to her grandsons, Carter and Jackson, who were fortunate to have her as a constant and loving presence in their lives.

She is survived by her daughters Ingrid and Kirsten Raleigh (George), her grandsons Carter and Jackson, her grand-dogs Lumi and Marlie, her niece and nephew in the Netherlands Sarah and Ruben, and her many, many friends.

The family will hold a private burial service, with a celebration of Lydia’s life to be announced at a later date.