LOWELL/IPSWICH - Nadine (Cowdrey) Wilkey, 70, a longtime Lowell and Ipswich resident, passed away on Monday, March 15, 2021 at Tufts New England Medical Center after a brief illness with her husband by her side. She was the beloved wife of Frederick R. Wilkey, Jr. with whom she celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this past December.
A daughter of the late Honorable Elliott T. Cowdrey and the late Ruth (Halpin) Cowdrey, she was born on June 23, 1950, in Lowell. She was raised and educated in Lowell’s Belvidere neighborhood and graduated from the Academy of Notre Dame in Tyngsboro with the class of 1968. She was presented by Cardinal Cushing at the 1968 St. Nicholas Cotillion. She went on to attend Northeastern University graduating with a Bachelors Degree of Arts with the class of 1972. During high school and college, she worked summers as a writer for the Lowell Sun.
In addition to her writing work for the Lowell Sun, Nade worked as a bank teller for a number of years at the Bank of New England. She also worked as a sales associate with Sears & Roebuck for many years in Lowell and later at the Pheasant Lane Mall. In retirement, she was most proud of her work as the office manager for Wilkey’s Gymnastics. She resided in Lowell’s Highlands neighborhood for over 50 years and spent summers at her family cottage on Little Neck in Ipswich, MA,
She loved shopping, dance, especially tap dancing, arts and crafts. “Bedazzling” anything and everything was her trademark and anyone who knew her recognized her as a person with inimitable style. More than anything, she cherished time spent with her family. From family vacations all over the world to a day spent at Mohegan Sun/Foxwoods or just a weekend spent at Little Neck, there was nothing that she cared for more than her family, especially her grandchildren.
Besides her devoted husband and best friend, Fred, she is survived by her 5 children, who were all her favorite, Jennifer Mendes and her husband, Scott, of Methuen, Heather Lynch and her husband, John, of Lowell, Jonathan Wilkey of Lowell, Christian Wilkey and his wife, Jessica, of Lowell and Shannon McDonough and her husband, John, of Lowell; her grandchildren; Brandi Lynch, Keith Lynch, Christian Wilkey Jr., Collin Wilkey, Alexis Mendes, Connor Wilkey, Abigail Mendes, Zoey McDonough, Lily Wilkey and Morgan McDonough; her sister and brothers, Marcia Cowdrey of Lowell, Elliott Rodger Cowdrey and his wife, Noreen, of Rochester, NH and Richard P. Cowdrey of Lowell; and her lifelong dear friend, Suzanne Hurley of Lowell.
She was also a proud descendant of Rebecca Nurse, one of the “Salem Witches” who was murdered in 1692 as a result of the Salem Witch Trials.
The family would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff at Tufts Medical Center for their tireless efforts, care and compassion for Nadine during her final days and the transplant team at UMass Medical Center in Worcester for giving Nadine a new lease on life on her birthday in 2012.
At the request of the family her funeral services were held privately from the MCDONOUGH FUNERAL HOME, 14 HIGHLAND STREET, LOWELL 978-458-6816. Please consider memorial donations in her name to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.