Elaine M Donahue, 77, of Salisbury, formerly of Lawrence, MA, passed away peacefully at home with her husband of 51 years by her side. The matriarch of the Donahue family and many others whom she treated as her own, Elaine was known for her honesty, her generosity, her sincerity, and above all, her rare way of showing love.
The youngest daughter of Charles and Myrtle (Dolomont) Hannan, she was born in Worcester, graduated from Auburn High School, and moved to Lawrence after meeting the love of her life, Steve Donahue, while working at Sears & Roebuck. Giving up a career to raise her children, Elaine embraced her new home, Lawrence, and became active in the community. She was president of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Lawrence, Past President Essex County Hibernians, President of the St. Patrick’s Day parade in the 1980’s, a member of the Quota Club International, and worked for various politicians during election season. Elaine loved her Irish heritage. Her and Steve hosted parties after the parade each year serving at least 100lbs of O’Neil’s corned beef. The Donahue house was host to many parties and fond memories throughout the years. She opened her door to many and was always willing to listen. She moved to Salisbury, her second home, in 1992, where she enjoyed her summers for the past 50 years. Elaine was often found on her deck reading a book and tan as she could be.
Elaine was a survivor. She survived a fire, death of her dad at age 4, the deaths of most of her siblings at a young age, breast cancer, and many ailments that she faced. She had a will to live that many couldn’t fathom. Elaine attended mass regularly until her health would not permit. She prayed and said her rosaries often. Elaine was known to many as “Mrs. D,” a name she loved hearing. Her house was the house to go to for a good laugh, a good cry, or simply to just hang out. Playing 45’s, gin rummy, with a glass of wine by her side, Elaine loved life and wanted everyone to love it with the same passion. Not short on words, she left her mark on this earth as a feisty strong-willed Irish woman who would help anyone that needed a hand. Although she would never say it too loudly, Elaine was proud of her family and everything they accomplished. She didn’t realize that it was because of her.
After raising her children, Elaine went back to work for H & R Block in quality control where she met many friends.
Elaine is survived by her husband, Steve Donahue, children Heather, Derek and his spouse Bettyanna (LoGrasso), Heidi and her husband Chris (Riccio), Dana and his wife Cora (Seaman), and Meg and her husband Tom, her grandchildren, Devin and her husband Eric (Notenboom), Ceili, Maggie, Bryce, Julia, Sheridyn, Lindsay, Meaghan, Rachael, TJ, Joey, and Katy, great-grandson, Landon, one on the way, Declan, and countless nieces, nephews, and extended family she treated as her own. Elaine was pre-deceased by her mother and father, her surrogate father, Joseph Fleming, her siblings, Richard, James, Joseph, Irene, Mary, Jean & Joan (the twins), and Ann and is survived by her brother, Charles.
Friends and family are invited to attend a funeral mass on Thursday, November 19, 2015 at 11:00AM in St. Patrick Church, 118 South Broadway, Lawrence, MA.
Friends may call on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 from 4:00PM to 8:00PM at the John Breen Memorial Funeral Home Inc. 122 Amesbury Street, Lawrence, MA, 01841. For more information or to send an online condolence please go to: www.breenfuneralhome.com
Donations can be made to St. Jude’s Hospital website donations: https://shop.stjude.org/GiftCatalog/express-donation.do or the Salisbury Beach Betterment Association website: www.sbba.us. Her family would like to thank Dr. Harris, Anna Jacques Hospital, and her friends from Commonwealth Ave. who looked after her over the past several years and brought meals to Mr. D.