Obituary of Phyllis Donnell

Phyllis L. Donnell, who was very proud to be a mother and grandmother, passed away at her home after being lovingly cared for at her home by her son Michael, her daughter Judy, and her granddaughter Kristin Hartford. She was 85 years old. Phyllis was born in Portland, Maine, the daughter of the late William and Minnie Stallard. When she was ten, her family moved to Arlington, Massachusetts. She graduated from Arlington High School and then furthered her education at a secretarial school. She worked as a secretary for John Hancock until her children were born and then started a new career as a mother. Phyllis's life revolved around her children. She was their nurse, counselor, chef, chauffer, Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout den mother, and friend. She volunteered her time at her children's schools as a lunch mother, library volunteer, and office volunteer. She joked that volunteering was the best way to keep a watchful eye on her five kids. She was a member of the League of Women Voters, the Moose in Portsmouth, NH, and a number of bowling leagues. She was a regular Red Cross volunteer and donor. She gladly watched over her grandchildren. She loved her home and loved to bake. Her cookie jar was always full of Toll House, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip and Snicker Doodle cookies. She traveled cross country with her family numerous times. She loved seeing the areas of the United States that can only be seen by car. She was a soap opera enthusiast and a Red Sox fanatic. She was a loving wife, devoted mother, and a proud grandmother, who touched the lives of her family and friends. Phyllis was the beloved wife of 59 years of the late Warren C. Donnell. She was the loving mother of Deborah Davidson of Colorado Springs, CO, Judith Robards & her husband Ed of Southborough, Patricia Lafond & her husband Stephen of Deerfield, NH, Michael of Burlington, and David & his wife Doreen of Wilmington. She was the sister of Doris Bancroft and Janice McGurl, both of Arlington, and the sister-in-law of Phyllis Shupe of ME. She was also survived by 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. She was preceeded in death by her grandson Mark Davidson. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at the St. Dorothy's Church, 11 Harnden St., Wilmington, on Wednesday, July 14 at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Phyllis's name may be made to People Helping People, P.O. Box 343, Burlington, MA 01803 & the VNA of Middlesex East & Visiting Nurse Hospice, 607 North Ave., Suite 17, Wakefield, MA 01880 Family Remembrance - By Debbie Davidson Thank you for coming to help us celebrate our mother’s life and to support us as we learn to cope with not being able to see her face or hear her voice every day. My mom was a very special lady. Growing up, I was something of a daddy’s girl and didn’t fully appreciate who Mom was. At one point, I thought of her as an Edith Bunker, always there to take care of her husband, without much life or a voice of her own. It wasn’t until I was grown, married, and a mother myself that I came to truly respect and appreciate what a gift her life was. Mom embodied the word ‘Mother’. She chose to stay at home and be a full-time mother, even though she’d been proud of her job with John Hancock Insurance. From the time Judy and I were little, and long after the time the ‘little kids’ came along, Mom was the one who opened her heart and her home to all our friends and made everyone welcome. There were always homemade cookies and someone to listen and to care. All the kids in the neighborhood came to her house to have Kool-Aid with ginger ale in it and chocolate chip cookies. She taught us the basic values of kindness and being a good friend. I learned that when you drove someone home, you never drove away until they were inside; my friend Carolyn still appreciates that little courtesy. I learned that when I promised to do something for someone, I had to do it even if I was mad at them when the time came. I learned that it didn’t matter whether anyone else would know if I did right or wrong, God would know – and I think he had a direct line to Mom’s ear! For more than 20 years, I taught other kids what a conscience is by telling them to act as if their mother was looking over their shoulder every minute. Mom was always my ‘rock’ and my guiding light. She was the one constant in all our lives – always just a phone call away if I was baby-sitting for a child who was ornery or getting sick or just missing their own mom. After I left home, I called her often to ask for help with a recipe and from 2,000 miles away she walked me through my problems and fixed my mistakes. Judy and Tricia, Mike and Dave, were so blessed to have her close to their children. I knew that Tuesday was her day in Deerfield and Friday was her day at David’s. She loved taking care of her grandchildren and reveled in their accomplishments. She loved going to their school plays, dance recitals or ball games. If you’ve had a minute to look at the pictures of Mom, you’ll notice that she was rarely alone. In nearly every photo, she’s with Dad or one of her children or grandchildren, or great-grandchildren. Family was her life and she was ours. I want to leave you by sharing some of our favorite memories of Mom: Watching her daily ‘shows’: Ellen, The View, The Price is Right, The Guiding Light and As the World Turns Hanging clothes on the line in the dead of winter so they’d smell fresh. Reading the newspaper, no matter how old. Helping to furnish the ‘fort’, then not telling who she found there on a school day! Dancing with Dad. Listening to Frank Sinatra. Making pancakes for Sunday night supper. Rooting for the Red Sox, every game, every year. I know you all have memories of your own, and I hope you’ll share them with us, later today and in the days ahead. We love you, Mom.