Jean A. Donnell died on Friday morning, February 3, 2017, at her home in Gorham, NH, at the age of 79. She was born in Montreal, Quebec, the daughter of William G. and Hazel I. Sinclair (Stuart). Jean was predeceased by her devoted husband Dr. James M. Donnell.
Jean graduated from Rosemount High School (year 12 at Montreal High) in 1955, where she had been selected to represent her school as a Junior Executive for Eaton’s Junior Council in 1953-54. She then attended the Montreal General Hospital School of Nursing, where she majored in Obstetrics and Care of the Newborn. Jean graduated in the top of her class as a Registered Nurse with honors in 1959. Jean was employed in Obstetrics at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, where she met the love of her life and husband Dr. James M. Donnell, whom she married in 1959.
Settling in Randolph, NH, in 1965, with her husband, Jean raised her family and took great joy in life in the White Mountains, where she met an abundance of wonderful life-long friends, and enjoyed many activities including alpine and Nordic skiing, gardening, swimming, kayaking, and golf. Jean enjoyed traveling, and cherished great memories of adventures around the world, but she truly was most happy to be home with her family in the mountains where she knew the members of her community and would meet friends on the slopes at Wildcat, and at the Randolph Pool, and the Androscoggin Valley and Waumbek golf courses in the summer.
Jean reveled in the wonders of nature, and in the company of family and friends, always ready to offer a wise and open-minded perspective on matters of life and current events. All who knew Jean Donnell will remember her genuine good nature and beautiful smile. And, of course, her amazing blueberry pies.
Jean is survived by daughters Jessica M. Donnell and life partner Tom Rousseau of Acton, ME, Jean Anne Donnell of San Raphael, CA, and Irene M. Donnell of Intervale, NH. Jean is also survived by her sisters NH Representative Mary Stuart Gile and husband, Robert H., of Concord, NH, and Mrs. Katherine I. Clancy of Palo Alto, CA; sister-in-law Mrs. Irene M. Slater of Cochrane, Ontario; nephews Christopher Trider of Concord, NH, and Robertson S. Gile of Washington, DC; nieces Julia (Trider) Bagley and husband Thomas of Oakdale, CT, Jeannie Clancy of Breckenridge, CO, Heather Clancy of San Diego, CA, Mrs. Wendy (Slater) Dodds and husband Francis of Cochrane, Ontario, Catherine Donnell of Hardwick, VT, and Mrs. Johanna Slater and Dr. Ben Chaouch of Windsor, Ontario. In addition to her parents and husband, Jean was predeceased by her brothers-in-law, Dr. Thomas P. Clancy of Palo Alto, CA, and Dr. John Slater of Cochrane, Ontario. Please join us in Celebration of Jean’s Life at the Town & Country Motor Inn on Saturday, February 11, 2017, from 3:00- 6:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jean’s memory to the Androscoggin Valley Hospital Auxiliary, in Berlin, NH, or to another favorite charity of one’s choice. The Bryant Funeral Home in Gorham is assisting with the arrangements.