Patricia Donahue

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend, Patricia passed away peacefully on April 26, 2014 at New London Health Center, Snellville, GA, surrounded by family.

Throughout her life, Patricia was an advocate of dismissing the negative, embracing the positive and enjoying good times with family. When met with adversity, Patricia often shrugged, smiled and offered her favorite response: “Whatever.” A master of razor-sharp wit, she was fond of laughing until she was doubled over, and even fonder of making others laugh – particularly in times of struggle.

Patricia was born on June 21, 1929 to Elsie and Michael J. O’Brien, Sr. in Detroit, MI. As a teenager, she attended St. James High School in Ferndale, MI, and she was eventually introduced to the love of her life, Richard J. Donahue. Richard and Patricia were happily married 49 years when he passed away in 1997.

Mrs. Donahue resided in Royal Oak for much of her life, where she was a homemaker, and later, worked for the Hilton Hotel in Troy, MI. In search of sunshine, she and her husband briefly lived in Florida and Southern California before finally settling in Tucson, AZ. Patricia was an active member of St. Pius X Catholic Church for many years, and leaves behind many beloved friends from the Tucson and St. Pius Community.

Due to declining health, Patricia left Tucson to live with her daughter and family in Lawrenceville, GA in April of 2012. Despite her health concerns, Patricia thrived amidst her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, attended many lively family gatherings and made plenty of memories.

Patricia is survived by her children, Lawrence M. (Pat) Donahue of Tucson, AZ, Patrick and Elizabeth Donahue of Hendersonville, NC, and Colleen and Tom Dagenhard of Lawrenceville, GA. Mrs. Donahue also leaves behind the joys of her life, her grandchildren, Michael J. Donahue and partner Courtney Ashare of Troy, MI, Patrick and Katie Donahue of Rochester, MI, Mary Grace Donahue and her mother, Jerlyn Donahue of Royal Oak, MI, Sean Donahue and Rochelle Turner of Atlanta, GA, Carrie and Galen Rutledge of Athens, GA, Kathleen Dagenhard and Ned Dagenhard of Lawrenceville, and great grandchildren Nolan and Nate Donahue of Atlanta, GA, and Molly Donahue of Rochester, MI, as well as sisters-in-law, Sr. Barbara Donahue and Sr. Therese Martin of Tucson, AZ and Helen Donahue of Traverse City MI.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Oliver Plunkett Catholic Church on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at 11:00 am, Fr. John Welch presiding. Interment will be set for a later date at Holy Sepulchre cemetery in Southfield. MI. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to your local St. Vincent de Paul Society.

The family would also like to recognize and thank the nurses and staff of the New London Health Center for their constant support and diligent care.

Arrangements under the direction of Eternal Hills Funeral Home, Snellville, GA.