Mary Margaret (Donahue) Walsh, 85, of Manchester, passed away on January 11, 2017 at the Maple Leaf Healthcare Center after a period of declining health. She was born in Manchester on May 20, 1931 the daughter of Henry and Ida (Fifty) Donahue and was a lifelong resident of the Queen City. She was educated in the local school system and attended Manchester High School Central.
Mary began a pen pal relationship with Kenneth Walsh when he was serving with the U.S. Army in Korea. When he returned to Manchester, he courted her, won her heart and they were married. Their marriage lasted for 68 years until Ken's passing seven months ago. In addition to raising her five children, she was employed, mostly in retail sales at a number of local businesses, including McQuade's, Machinists, and Hill's Department Stores. Mary was an incredibly loving and generous woman. No charitable request went unanswered. She found her greatest joy in helping others, be they family, friends or strangers. She enjoyed traveling, Ireland and St. John being her favorite places to visit, however, she was happiest at home surrounded by family at her weekly gatherings. She was easy to love and will be deeply missed by her family and many friends.
Mary is survived by her children, Brenda Sanborn and her husband Robert, Kenneth Walsh Jr., Michael Walsh and his wife Valerie, Thomas Walsh and Patricia Welch and her husband Kevin, five grandchildren, Gabe, Matthew, Brandon, Brittney and Emma, three great-grandchildren, Nathaniel, Patrick and Violet and her sister Bonnie Espinola.
She was predeceased by her husband Kenneth, and sisters Shirley Deschuiteneer, Sandra Janelle and Roxanne Remillard.
Services were private at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations in Mary’s name be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital PO Box 1000 Dept. 142 Memphis, TN 38101. The family has entrusted the McHugh Funeral Home with her care.
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