WORCESTER-Mary A. (O’Donnell) Coakley, of 111 Longfellow Road, died Tuesday, March 19th in Christopher House. Her husband of 40 years, John P. Coakley died in 1979. She leaves 2 daughters, Catherine M. Coakley of Worcester and Margaret A. Coakley-Hamelin wife of Thomas Hamelin of Sterling; a sister, Eleanor M. O’Donnell of Worcester; 3 grandchildren, Kathryn M., Thomas J. and Jomar T. Hamelin all of Sterling and several nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by 2 sisters, Gertrude C. O’Donnell and Grace E. O’Donnell-Gamache.
She was born in Worcester, the daughter of George H. and Katharine E. (Gaffney) O’Donnell and lived here all of her life. She graduated from Radcliffe College in Cambridge and attended Clark University in its graduate study program. Mrs. Coakley was a high school teacher in Connecticut for several years. She was a lifelong member of Blessed Sacrament Church and several of its organizations, the Radcliffe Club, American Association of University Women and the Guild of Our Lady of Providence.
The funeral will be held Saturday, March 23rd from O’Connor Brothers Funeral Home, 592 Park Avenue, with a 10:00 AM mass in Blessed Sacrament Church, 555 Pleasant Street, Worcester. Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery. Calling hours will be Friday, March 22nd from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Christopher House Activities Fund, 10 Mary Scano Drive, Worcester, MA 01605 or to the Lupus Foundation of America, 40 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701.