Obituary of Sister M. Ancilla Donahue

Sister M. Ancilla Donahue, age 92, died Tuesday, Aug. 10,2010 at Sister Anne Virginia Grimes Health Center. Sister Ancilla was a Sister of Charity of Our Lady Mother of Mercy ( SCMM ), East Haven, CT for seventy four years, entering the Congregation in 1936. She lived at the Sisters of Charity residence at 87 Gerrish Ave., East Haven prior to moving in 2004 to the Grimes Health Center. Sister Ancilla was born Aug. 18,1917 in Waterbury, a daughter of the late James F. and Katherine M.McGrath Donahue. After receiving a BA from the Diocesan Teachers College in Putnam, she received a MA from Providence College. For many years ( 1963 - 1969 ) she taught at St, Vincent de Paul School in East Haven and then became the Director of Religious Education for the parish. In 1979 she became the Director of Religious Education for St. Rose Parish in New Haven. During her years in teaching ministry, Sister was at St. Joseph , Willimantic as well as at St. Mary, Willimantic; St. Joseph, Baltic;Sacred Heart, Byram and Sacred Heart, Bloomfield. After retiring in the mid 1980's she volunteered at the Fair Haven Soup Kitchen and the East Haven Food Pantry. Once she moved to the Grimes Health Center she continued her ministry visiting and cheering up other residents. She is survived by her sister Katherine M. Flannery and nieces Rita ( Ed ) Marcinkas, Sheila ( John )Fetto and Kathy Flannery, all of West Haven. Sister is also survived by her sisters in law Joan Donahue of Port Jervis, NY and Marie Donahue of Wilton, CT. She leaves nephews Thomas, James, Peter and Tim Donahue and several grand nieces and nephews and great grand nieces and nephews. Sister was predeceased by brothers Tom and Jim Donahue. She is also survived by her sister companions in community. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday morning at 11:00 in St. Vincent de Paul Church, Taylor Ave., East Haven. Burial will follow in All Saints Cemetery. Calling hours at the Clancy Funeral Home, 43 Kirkham Ave., East Haven will be Thursday from 5 - 8 pm. The Sisters will lead a prayer service at 7pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the SCMM Retirement Fund, 32 Tuttle Place, East Haven, CT 06512. Special thanks to the wonderful,loving staff on the 3rd floor at SAV Grimes Health Center and to Chaplain Lisa Irish.