John T. McDonnell, 93
Dateline: Mansfield, MA
John T. McDonnell, age 93, of Mansfield passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at the Southeast Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Center in Easton.
He was the beloved husband of the late Julia M. (Sheehan) McDonnell who died on January 11, 2013. Mr. and Mrs. McDonnell were married on February 5, 1948.
Born in Cork City, Ireland on December 10, 1919, he was a dear son of the late Patrick and Adelaide (Clancy) McDonnell.
John spent his early childhood living in Ireland. At age nine, his family moved to England. During WWII he served in the British Army in the Home Guard in England from 1940-1946, during the “Blitz”. He then served in the Southeast Asia Command, stationed in Burma and India.
Mr. McDonnell moved to the United States in 1952, first settling in Quincy. He had made his home in Mansfield for the past 26 years and had previously resided in Brockton.
Prior to retiring he had worked for 32 years at the former Mathewson Machine Works in North Quincy and was a member of the International Association of Machinists.
John was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Mansfield where he had served as a former collector during Sunday morning Mass. He enjoyed reading, gardening and bowling, and along with his late wife Julia, was a loyal fan of the New England Patriots.
His other interests included traveling back to England and Ireland to visit with family. John took great pride in his family and will be remembered for the warmth he showed towards animals.
He is survived by his devoted children, Maureen F. Cook and her husband Harry of Mansfield and David P. McDonnell and his wife Leslie of Mansfield. He was pre-deceased by his 7 siblings and is also survived by his cherished granddaughters, Jennifer Kinney of Mansfield and Elizabeth Cook of Mansfield, his adoring great grandson Sean Kinney of Mansfield, as well as several nieces and nephews.
His funeral Mass, to which relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend, will be celebrated on Saturday, August 31st at 10:30A.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 Saturday morning beginning at 9:00 A.M. at the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home, 55 North Main St., Mansfield.
In lieu of flowers, John’s family has requested that donations in his memory be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Massachusetts, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472.
To send John’s family a message of condolence, please visit www.shermanjackson.com