Joan Mable Donahue

Joan was born July 23, 1920, in Port Jervis, NY, to John H. and Mable Colloton Goodfellow. She was raised by her aunt, Rena Goodfellow after losing her Mother at age 2. Growing up in Port Jervis, a beautiful little village on the Delaware River flanked by the Pocono and Catskill Mountains, Joan was voted the prettiest girl in her senior class. After high school, she moved to New York City where she attended N.Y.U. It was here that Joan met a handsome young accountant named James Donahue. After he returned from service in World War II, they were married in August of 1943 in Port Jervis.

Joan and James had a storybook love for each other that spanned over 55 years of marriage until his death in 1998. During these precious years, they were able to see the world thanks to James’s airline connections. They lived their early years in Brooklyn, NY, Miami, FL, Levittown, NY, and Lima, Peru, and finally settled in Maywood, NJ, where they started a family with the birth of their only child, Tommy. As luck would have it, Braniff Airways acquired James’ airline and the Donahue’s would move to Dallas, TX, in 1967.

The most important thing in Joan’s life was her Catholic faith. She never missed Mass or a Holy Day. In her later years, when travel was not possible, she insisted on a visit each week from a local priest or deacon so she could receive communion and a blessing. Surely God is waiting with open arms for his faithful servant.

Joan’s only child, Tommy, was the apple of her eye. Being a housewife, she was always there for carpools, advice and love. She was known throughout the neighborhood as “The Cookie Lady.” This title would follow for years after Tommy left home since the house was the only one without a back fence. The door was always open! Joan’s love of sports would be an understatement. As neighbors could attest, her cheers and displeasures of many a Cowboys or Stars game could be heard far and wide. When her son Tommy lost his leg in 1981, she was at his bedside for months giving him the love and the determined fight that he carries with him to this day.

Joan’s love of family brought her back to Port Jervis in the early 2000’s after the death of her beloved James. Here she spent the next 8 years enjoying time with her two sisters and dozens of nieces and nephews. But her true love was her son Tommy who she missed terribly. In 2013 she returned to Dallas to spend her last years with him.

Joan was preceeded in death by her mother, Mable Colloton, father John H. Goodfellow, sisters, Elizabeth Lynch and Marie Perkowski, brothers William J. Goodfellow and John H. (Jack) Goodfellow Jr. and aunt Rena Goodfellow. She is survived by son Tommy Donahue, neice Mary Grace Carlton, goddaughters Susan Scully and Melissa Cribbin Sharma and dozens of nieces and nephews. Special thanks to Melinda Portman for all her love and support these last few years.

Visitation will be held at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home Monday, November 11 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, with Rosary following at 7:00 pm. Funeral Mass, St. Rita Catholic Community (12521 Inwood Rd, Dallas, TX), Tuesday at 10:00 am, Fr. Michael Conrady officiating. Private family committal service in the mausoleum of Calvary Hill Memorial Park.

Family will welcome friends for a reception at Milo Butterfinger's, 5645 SMU Blvd, Dallas, TX 75206, generously catered by Campisi's Restaurant.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Joan’s memory to the Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas 121345 Inwood Rd. Dallas, TX 75244 or The Dallas Amputee Network 5645 SMU Blvd Dallas, TX 75206.