SPRINGFIELD – Veronica “Ronnie” (Sheehan) Donohue, 97, a longtime resident of the Hungry Hill section of Springfield, was Called Safely Home on Sunday, December 17, 2017. She passed into Eternal Life at Mont Marie Health Care Center in Holyoke surrounded by the care and comfort of her loving family, her wonderful caregivers and her longtime friend, Sister Patricia Francis. She was born in Holyoke on August 21, 1920, a beloved daughter of the late Thomas F. and Catherine (Feeney) Sheehan. Her early years were spent in Holyoke where she graduated from Blessed Sacrament Elementary School. She moved with her parents to Springfield where she graduated from the former Sacred Heart High School and lived in the Hungry Hill section of Springfield for many years. She furthered her education and graduated from the former Springfield Civil Service and Commercial School where she received a Certificate in Business Administration. She was employed as an Office Manager for the former Allegheny Ludlum Steel Company on Taylor Street in Springfield. She later worked as a Secretary for Catholic Charities at the Diocese of Springfield. In 1977, Ronnie became the Administrative Assistant for the late Bishop Joseph F. Maguire. She worked in the Bishop’s Office for many years where she scheduled all his appointments. Following Bishop Maguire’s retirement, Ronnie continued her work with him as Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese. She was a communicant of the former Our Lady of Hope Church in Springfield and a member of the former Our Lady of Hope Guild of the Church. Following the closing of her parish, Ronnie became a communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Springfield. Most of all, she was a wonderful homemaker to her family and showered them with her love and affection which was returned to her a thousand fold. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, James J. Donohue who was Called Home on June 27, 1988. She leaves her four loving children, Margaret A. “Peggy” Ketchum and her husband, Kenneth, of Ludlow, James J. Donohue and his wife, Nancy, of West Springfield, Mary K. Weaver and her husband, Richard, of Northborough, MA and Patricia A. Tabb and her husband, Thomas, of Springfield; her eight cherished grandchildren, Meghan Lacus, Ryan Donohue and his wife, Jocelyn, Kerry Derry and her husband, Josh, Daniel Weaver and his wife, Andrea, Katie Eburn and her husband, Bill, Chrissy Weaver, Thomas Tabb and Marybeth Tabb; her six cherished great-grandchildren, Dylan Lacus, Avery and Liam Donohue, Delaney Derry and Abby and Quinn Eburn; and her many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Donohue and Sheehan families. Besides her parents and husband, she was also predeceased by her dear brothers, Bernard Sheehan and Thomas Sheehan and his wife, Ethel; her dear sister, Kathleen Stevens and her husband, Frank; and her dear sister-in-law, Anna Mae Rooney and her husband, Harry. Her Funeral will be held on Friday morning, December 22, 2017 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Springfield Chapels, (413-737-1177), 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107, (funeral home will open at 8 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01104. Her Burial will follow the Mass at Saint Michael Cemetery, 1601 State Street, Springfield, MA 01109. Her family will receive friends on Thursday, December 21, 2017 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. For those who prefer, her family requests that memorial donations be made in her memory to the Sisters of Saint Joseph, 577 Carew Street, Springfield, MA 01104 or the Sacred Heart Church Renovation Fund, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01104. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
