Brenda Anne Nadolski

She was predeceased by her loving husband Joseph “Joe” in 2019. She was the mother of 5 sons, Joseph; Robert; Michael and his wife Nancy; David and his wife Laura; and Kenneth and his wife Michelle; and the grandmother of ten: Samantha, Nina, Joseph III, Brandon, Isabella, Katie, Julia, Emma, Nathan, Ryan. She was predeceased by her Brother Bernard McGovern.

Born in Lowell Massachusetts, she was the daughter of the late Bernard and Mildred (Lavin) McGovern. She grew up in Chelmsford MA and graduated from Notre Dame Academy in Tyngsboro MA and Burdette College in Boston MA.

She married Joe in 1964; and settled in Central Massachusetts – living in Worcester and Westborough to raise their family. Shuttling the children to and from after-school activities; helping with the PTA; and church groups; her focus of her twenties and thirties was her children. She enjoyed working with her hands, she was an excellent seamstress, enjoyed knitting and crocheting often making clothing for the growing kids, her gardens produced vegetables for the family dinner table and flowers and shrubs to decorate the home. She always had some “do-it-yourself” (DIY) project going on around the house to better the family.

In the 1990s she pursued her hobby and dreams as fabric and fiber artist and established her business “The Doll Cupboard”. She created fiber doll statues, clowns and colorful balloon sculptures. For the next 20 years she and Joe would travel the nation – exhibiting at art shows, state fairs, and balloon festivals showcasing her creations and often winning recognition, while brining joy to girls and boys, clown lovers and hot air balloon enthusiasts. In 2002 she and her husband moved to Port St Lucie, for the warmer weather that was beneficial for her art, but also for her health. They really enjoyed the Treasure Coast from picnicking at Jetty Park, shopping at the Fort Pierce farmers market, or walking the beaches of Hutchison Island, they really enjoyed the beauty of this part of Florida.

Around 2014, her husband began his Alzheimer’s journey, they slowly retreated from their travels on the art circuit, and eventually she stopped operating the Doll Cupboard to be a full-time caregiver. She succeeded in her goal of caring for Joe at home until his death a herculean and often unsung task, especially in the last year or two of his life.

In the last few years, she could always be found working around her yard, garden or house keeping things immaculate and entertaining her family when they visit. She would still make an annual drive to New England to visit her grandchildren and attend their milestone events such as graduation.

Visitation and services will be held on Tuesday March 4, 2025, see details below. In leu of flowers donations can be made in her name at the Diabetes Research Institute.

https://support.diabetesresearch.org/site/Donation2;jsessionid=00000000.app20101a?df_id=2260&mfc_pref=T&2260.donation=form1&NONCE_TOKEN=E785F6D4F38F5B79C43C5C16735BAEEE