Joan Marie (Davis) McDonald, 71, of Fairhaven passed away on Wednesday December 16, 2015 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Born in Boston to the late Elmer and Theresa (King) Davis, she was raised and lived in Nantucket where she met and married her husband of 53 years, Ronald McDonald, Sr. They moved to Marion in 1972 to raise their family, where she was a communicant of St. Rita’s Church.
Aside from being a stay-at-home mom, she was also a part-time hairdresser. Her greatest joy was spending time with her children and grandchildren, always supporting them in their sports and activities, as well as making occasions and gatherings with family and friends special. She was selfless in helping others. She enjoyed vegetable and flower gardening side by side with her husband, and enjoyed family time at the beach.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her five children, Ronald (and Patricia) McDonald of Dorchester, Kevin (and Elizabeth) McDonald of Framingham, Cheryl (and James) Morrell and Deborah (and Stephen) Gonsalves, all of Marion, and Brian (and Katie) McDonald of Clarence Center, NY; her grandchildren, Patrick (and Hillary), Brendan, David, and Mary McDonald, Shannon, Matthew, Timothy, Colleen, and Bridget McDonald, Lucas Morrell, Trevor McDonald (and Jacqueline Sampson), Toby and Hunter Gonsalves, Alex and Emma Dunn, and Regan McDonald, and one great-grandchild, Finley McDonald. She is also survived by three siblings, Elmer “Buddy” (and Eleanor) Davis of FL, Margaret “Peggy” Duarte of AZ, and Shirley (and Raymond) Novak of Methuen; and many nieces, nephews, and special lifelong friends.
She was predeceased by her brothers, Edward and Robert Davis, brother-in-law, Nelson Duarte, and sister-in-law, Sally Davis.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff of Southcoast Center for Cancer Care in Fairhaven for their loving and supportive care.
Her Funeral will be held on Monday at 9 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Road, Route 6, Mattapoisett, followed by her Funeral Mass at St. Anthony’s Church, Mattapoisett at 10 AM. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Marion. Visiting hours will be on Sunday from 4-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Southcoast Center for Cancer Care, 206 Mill Road, Fairhaven, MA 02719. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.