Patricia A. (Brown) Donovan, 71, a longtime resident of Tewksbury and more recently of Pelham, died peacefully on Monday, October 5, 2026, at Lowell General Hospital with her family by her side. She was the beloved wife of Robert J. Donovan, with whom she shared 52 years of marriage.
Born in Woburn on March 15, 1955, Patty was the daughter of the late Frederick Brown and the late Jean (Carney) Brown. She grew up on Darby Street in Tewksbury, went to the Tewksbury schools, and graduated from Tewksbury Memorial High School. Soon after high school she married her sweetheart, Robert, on September 14, 1974. The couple made their home in Tewksbury for many years before moving to Pelham about ten years ago.
Patty was a devoted homemaker who put her family at the center of everything she did. She loved to travel and take vacations, always with her family, and she enjoyed a trip to the casino. She was a proud fixture in the stands, cheering on her children and later her grandchildren at their school wrestling matches. Above all, her greatest joy was time with her children and grandchildren, who knew her simply as "Nana."
A woman of faith, Patty was a parishioner of St. William's Church in Tewksbury for many years and, after moving to Pelham, of St. Patrick Church.
Besides her husband, Patty is survived by her two sons, George Donovan and his wife Jennifer of Pelham, NH, and Robert J. Donovan and his wife Matty of Greenville, SC; her five grandchildren, Jacob, Samantha, Elizabeth, Alexa, and RJ Donovan; her brothers and sisters, Kenneth Brown and his wife Hedgie of Tewksbury, Donna (Brown) March and her husband Syd of Billerica, Kathleen (Brown) Renaud and her husband Michael of Litchfield, NH, and Frederick Brown III of Billerica; her brothers-in-law, Robert Matheson of Camden, SC, Michael Donovan of Tewksbury, Al Donovan and his wife Katie of Tewksbury, and David Donovan and his wife Lynn of Groton, and Patty Donovan of Tewksbury; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. She was the sister of the late Jayne (Brown) Matheson and the sister-in-law of the late Mark Donovan.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours on Thursday, October 8, 2026, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Tewksbury Funeral Home, 1 Dewey Street, Tewksbury, MA 01876.
Her funeral will begin at the funeral home on Friday, October 9, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., followed by her Funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m. at St. William's Church, 1351 Main Street, Tewksbury, MA 01876. Burial will follow at Lowell Cemetery, 77 Knapp Avenue, Lowell.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Patty’s memory to the Mark Donovan Scholarship, supporting student-athletes in pursuing their dreams. Donations can be made at https://www.dunnietough.com
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Tewksbury Funeral Home. For additional information or to offer an online condolence, please visit www.tewksburyfuneralhome.com.