Diana D. (Lyko) Donnellan, age 88, of Palm City, Florida, formerly a longtime resident of Winchester, passed away peacefully on January 26, 2025. She was the beloved wife for 45 years of William F. Donnellan, until his death in 2016.
Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, Diana was the daughter of the late John and Eva (Merchut) Lyko.
She was raised and educated in Lowell and was a graduate of Lowell High School.
She and Bill, residents of Winchester for over 60 years, ran a busy household and raised their large family there. She also worked for many years as an office manager in research and development for Lincoln Laboratories and General Dynamics.
In Winchester, Diana was actively involved in St. Mary’s Church, where over the years she served as a Eucharistic Minister and would also bring communion to the homebound parishioners. A devout Catholic, she felt spiritual and personal fulfillment serving in these roles and also as a dedicated volunteer with the Meals on Wheels program in Winchester. In her spare time, she could also be found playing golf, Mahjong and Bridge. For many years she and Bill split their time between Winchester and Florida and were always looking for ways to improve their golf games. Diana treasured her huge network of friends and enjoyed them as much as her family.
Diana was the loving mother of Michael Donnellan and his late wife Christine of Woburn, Barbara Snow and her husband David of Upton, Joanne Blaine of Plymouth, Nancy McGinty and her husband Tom of Chelmsford, Brian Donnellan and his wife Kathleen of Beverly, John Donnellan and his wife Nancy of Hobe Sound, FL, David Donnellan of Centerville, William F. Donnellan, Jr. and his wife Lori of Hingham and Mark Donnellan of Winchester. She was the cherished grandmother of seventeen grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, the sister of the late Joseph, Chester and Ernie Lyko, Jan Grandalski and Phyllis Nolan and is further survived by many nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather for Visiting Hours at the Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Winchester, on Thursday, January 30 from 4-7PM and again on Friday, January 31 at 9AM, followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church, 155 Washington St., Winchester, at 10AM. Burial will follow in Wildwood Cemetery, Winchester. In lieu of flowers, donations in Diana’s memory may be made to Winchester Hospital at https://www.winchesterhospital.org/giving or by mail to Beth Israel Lahey Health Winchester Hospital, Office of Philanthropy, 529 Main St., 4th Floor, Charlestown, MA 02129.