O’Donnell, Barbara McClay, 82, September 28, 2013. Calling hours are Friday, October 4 from 6-8 p.m. at Bowers Funeral Home, Houlton. A mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary’s of the Visitation, Houlton. Interment to be at noon on Thusday, October 10 in the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Augusta. Arrangements by Bowers Funeral Home, Houlton.
Barbara McClay O’Donnell, 82, passed away on September 28, 2013. Mrs. O’Donnell was born September 20, 1931, to Theodore McClay and Edna (Deveau) McClay in Fort Fairfield.
Barbara graduated from Houlton High School in 1950 and soon became a full time mother. After raising her children, she returned to school at the University of Maine, Presque Isle, receiving her Associate’s Degree in 1985 and then completed her Bachelor’s Degree in 1988. Barbara was a 4-H leader for 18 years for the Think and Do 4-H Club and was a member of the Council for Catholic Women for many years. She also served on the board at the Aroostook County Historical & Art Museum. She was an avid flower gardener. There were always beautiful flower beds bordering the house and yard. She also was an excellent seamstress, making a lot of her own and her children’s clothing, and teaching all of her daughters how to sew. She was especially proud that she hand-made each of her four daughter’s wedding gowns. She was very creative and learned to paint, making many lovely watercolor landscapes. She loved the annual “ladies weekends” in Boston and Montreal with her daughters and granddaughters. She and Francis enjoyed travelling, visiting Williams-burg, VA., New York City, Disneyworld and Ireland. She was very interested in her family’s genealogy and created several albums of McClay and O’Donnell genealogy. In later years, she looked forward to Monday card games with her friends and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grand-children.
She is survived by her seven children, Mary (Ritchie Guilford), Marguerite (Timothy Cowan), Timothy (Sharon O’Donnell), Michael (Marcia O’Donnell), Jean (Martin Goldsmith), Douglas (Tammy O’Donnell) and Jane (Mark Hutchinson). She had 18 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren at the time of her death. In addition, she is survived by her sister Evangeline Perona of Fairport Harbor, Ohio. She was predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Francis O’Donnell, and her sister, Priscilla Farrar.
Friends may call 6-8 p.m. on Friday, October 4 at Bowers Funeral Home, 10 Water Street, Houlton. A mass of Christian burial will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday at St. Mary’s of the Visitation, Houlton with Father Dave Raymond celebrant. Interment will be noon on Thursday, October 10 in the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Augusta. In lieu of flowers, donations in Barbara’s name may be made to St Mary’s Catholic Church, 110 Military Street, Houlton, ME 04730 or Madigan Estates Activity Fund, 93 Military Street. For an online memory book and to leave condolences, please visit www.bowersfuneral.com.
The family would like to thank the staff at Madigan Estates, Madigan Home Health Care and Westgate Manor for the tremendous care and support they provided during her illness.
