Gertrude M McDonald

Gertrude M. (Tuttle) McDonald, 91, of Hyannis, MA passed away peacefully on December 6, surrounded by family.

Gert was born in Holyoke, MA September 24, 1923. She graduated from Holyoke High School in 1940 and studied at the American School of Ballet in New York City 1940-1943. Subsequently, she opened the “Gertrude Tuttle Studio of the Dance” in Holyoke.

In 1945 Gert married the love of her life, Lieutenant John R. McDonald, US Army Air Corp. They raised their four children in West Springfield, MA and moved to Hyannis in 1973.

Gert was employed by Cape Cod Bank & Trust and retired in 1988. During her retirement she enjoyed traveling and her time at Covell’s Beach. She volunteered at Barnstable Senior Center where she taught exercise classes for many years. Gert was also a long time member of Saint Francis Xavier’s Ladies Guild in which she served as Corresponding Secretary.

Gert is survived by her four children: Trudy Lefebvre and her husband Brett of Newburyport, MA; Ross and his wife Barbara of Eastham, MA; Lori Banks and her husband Jon of Harwich, MA and Lynn McDonald and her husband Steve Ziemba of West Springfield, MA, her ten grandchildren: Rob, Renee, Breton, Niki, Aubrey, Jody, Kelly, Beth, David and Kristin, her eight great grandchildren: Sarah, J.J., Sienna, Anna Claire, Nicole, Lillian, Jonathan and James. Gert also leaves her beloved sister, Phyllis (Tuttle) Turcotte of West Springfield as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was pre-deceased in death by her husband of 52 years, John R McDonald who passed away December 8, 1987.

Visitation will be held Wednesday December 10 from 4 to 7 at the Doane, Beal & Ames Funeral Home, 160 West Main Street, Hyannis, MA.

Her funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, December 11 at 11 AM at St. Francis Xavier Church 347 South St. Hyannis, MA. Burial will follow at St Francis Xavier cemetery in Centerville, MA.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to VNA Hospice, Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation, PO Box 370, Hyannis, MA 02601-0370