Julia M. McDonnell, 87
Dateline: Mansfield, MA
Julia M. (Sheehan) McDonnell, age 87, of Mansfield passed away on Friday, January 11, 2013 at Norwood Hospital in Norwood. She was the beloved wife of John T. McDonnell.
Born in County Kerry, Ireland on February 18, 1925, she was a loving daughter of the late John and Hannah (O’Connor) Sheehan.
She grew up and was educated in Ireland. On February 5, 1948, she was wed to her husband John in England. In 1952 they moved to the United States and settled in Quincy.
A retired Nurses Aide, Mrs. McDonnell had worked at the former Van Dora Nursing Home in Foxboro and previously for the Braemoor Nursing Home in Brockton.
Julia had made her home in Mansfield for the past 26 years and had formerly resided in Brockton. She was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Mansfield. Her greatest pride in life was her family.
She was an avid New England Patriots fan and enjoyed watching the news on television. Her other interests included gardening in her yard, trips back home to England and Ireland to visit family, and she will always be remembered for the love and kindness she showed toward animals.
In addition to her beloved husband of nearly 65 years, she is survived by her devoted children, Maureen F. Cook and her husband Harry and David P. McDonnell and his wife Leslie all of Mansfield. She was the dear sister of Mary Fitzgerald of Stoneham, David Sheehan and his wife Kitty of England and the late Michael Sheehan. Mrs. McDonnell is also survived by her adoring grandchildren, Jennifer Kinney and Elizabeth Cook both of Mansfield, her great grandson Sean Kinney of Mansfield, and several nieces and nephews.
Her Funeral Mass, to which relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend, will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 15th at 10:30 a.m. in St. Mary’s Church, 330 Pratt St. (Route 106) Mansfield. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Mansfield.
Visitation will be held prior to the funeral mass on Tuesday morning beginning at 9:00 A.M. at the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home, 55 North Main St., Mansfield.
In lieu of flowers, her family has requested that donations in her memory be made to the Mansfield Animal Shelter, 175 Fruit St, Mansfield, MA 02048.
To send the McDonnell a message of condolence or for additional information, please visit www.shermanjackson.com