LACONIA - Janice Donahue, 77, of Laconia, passed away at home, surrounded by her family on Sunday, September 17, 2017 after a battle with ALS. She now rests in the arms of her Heavenly Father.
Janice was born in Methuen, MA on November 16, 1939, the daughter of Daniel and Helen (Butterworth) Downey. She graduated from Tenney High School in Methuen, MA and worked at Raytheon Corp in Andover, MA. After high school, she met and married the love of her life and best friend Dan. They have been married for 57 years and spent most of those years living in Laconia.
She worked as a secretary at Sacred Heart Church for 14 years, tending to the staff and parishioners of the parish. Being a devote Catholic, this job suited her well. The Last 20 years of a life were spent working for Community Health and Hospice as a homemaker - companion, living the gospel message of being of service to others. She loved working with the elderly, enabling them to continue to live in their homes independently with a little help. She cherished her clients and treated them like family until she became too sick to continue. She was also a Hospice volunteer. She enjoyed playing bingo, doing crossword puzzles, dancing and having her Seagrams 7 and ginger at 4PM each day, reading her paper and watching the news.
Janice is survived by her husband, Dan, two daughters; Kelley Ann Donahue and her fiancé Robert Yarworski of Tempe, Arizona and Kimberey Ann Donahue and her fiancé Mike Bisson of Moultonborough, by two brothers; David Downey of Methuen, MA and Ken Downey of Tucson, AZ , one sister, Joyce Brugman and her husband Dennis of Ocala, FL, three granddaughters; Jennifer Tunning-Rodriguez and her husband Anthony of Phoenix, Arizona, Amanda Tunning of Tempe, Arizona and Brittani Reynolds of Laconia and one great granddaughter, Adriana, who she loved to spoil, all the loves of her life and many nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her parents, Janice was predeceased by one brother, Dan Downing.
Calling hours will be held from 3PM to 7PM on Thursday, September 21, 2017 at the Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, using the Carriage House entrance.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11AM on Friday, September 22, 2017 at St. Andre Bessette Parrish - St. Joseph Church, 30 Church Street, Laconia.
Burial will be held at 1PM on Monday, September 25, 2017 at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, Boscawen.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her honor to the ALS Association of Northern, NE, 10 Ferry Street, Concord, NH 03301.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements.