WORCESTER-Eleanor Margaret O’Donnell, 98, of Worcester, a loving aunt, grand aunt and great grand aunt, died peacefully Thursday, June 12th in Holy Trinity Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, after a short illness. Three sisters, Mary, wife of John Coakley, Gertrude O’Donnell and Grace, wife of Norman Gamache all of Worcester, predeceased her. She is survived by three nieces, Elizabeth Gamache, with whom she lived, Catherine Coakley of Worcester and Margaret Coakley-Hamelin and her husband, Thomas of Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA; two nephews, George Gamache and his wife, Mary Ellen of Walpole and William Gamache and his wife Susan of Concord, NH. Miss O’Donnell also leaves three grand nieces, Anne, wife of Dave Finnegan of Richmond, VA, Mary, wife of Jon Abplanalp of Ridgewood, NJ and Kate Hamelin of Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA; her grand nephews, Andrew Gamache and his wife, Molly of Natick, Daniel Gamache and his wife Laura of Lynnfield and Thomas “TJ”, and Joey Hamelin of Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA; her great grand nephews, Timothy and William Abplanalp and Nicholas Finnegan; her great grand nieces Amber and Ava Gamache; several cousins and family friends.
She was born in Worcester, June 6, 1910, the daughter of George H. and Katharine (Gaffney) O’Donnell and had lived here all her life. Miss O’Donnell retired as a history teacher from South High School when it was located on Freeland Street. She was educated in the Worcester Public School System, completed her undergraduate studies at Radcliffe College in Cambridge, and graduate studies at Clark University. Miss O’Donnell had been a life long member of Blessed Sacrament Parish, a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the Retired Educators Association of Massachusetts, Southern Worcester Chapter, (REAM); the Harvard-Radcliffe Club, the Worcester Art Museum, Smithsonian Institute, the Clark Alumni Association and the American Association of University Woman, (AAUW) Following her retirement Miss O’Donnell volunteered at the American Antiquarian Society, the Worcester Art Museum as a docent and the American Society for the Blind as a reader and as a Brailler.
Eleanor’s family offers their deep gratitude to the entire staff of Holy Trinity Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, the Village Unit and especially the Hillside Unit for your daily support, friendship, kindness and dedicated care to our Aunt Ele.
The funeral is Tuesday, June 17th from O’CONNOR BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 592 Park Avenue, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM in Blessed Sacrament Church, 555 Pleasant Street. Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery. Calling hours are Monday, June 16th from 5:00 until 7:00 PM in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Resident Council Fund, c/o Holy Trinity Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 300 Barber Avenue, Worcester, MA 01606; or the charity of ones choice.