Obituary of Mary R. (Silva) Donahue

Mary R. (Silva) Donahue,94, wife of the late Francis H. Donahue, passed away peacefully at the Rosewood Nursing Home following a brief illness. Mrs. Donahue was born in Peabody, July 25, 1912, daughter of the late Manuel and Palmira (Silva) Silva. She was a graduate of Peabody High School, class of 1930 and four year later was a graduate of Salem Normal School now known as Salem State College. When Mary entered the first grade she immediately made it known that she was going to be a teacher and that she was for many decades. After graduating from Salem Normal School, she began her teaching career in Peabody at the Center School and later taught at the Brown and Carroll Schools. Mrs. Donahue was widely known for her extraordinary work in teaching bilingual students from six to sixteen. There are many interesting stories that she has told of her journey in the teaching world. To her surprise, she was chosen as the recipient of the Ward 3 Outstanding Citizen of the Year award. She was a very active member of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Peabody. She worked diligently on many of their fundraisers and was active in many organizations as a well. She was secretary to the Board of Directors of the Peabody Municipal Federal Credit Union. She is survived by two sisters, Lucy M Silva, Madeline J. Elwell and her husband William, a sister-in-law, Angela I, Silva, three nieces and six nephews, William A. Elwell and his wife Ann, Deborah M. Donavan and her husband Kevin, Kimberly A. Karazurna and her husband Kosta, Barbara J. Cesanek and her husband James, Richard J. Silva and his wife Mary, Paul V. Silva and his wife Beverly, Robert L. Silva and his wife Jean, Mark A. Silva and his wife Julie, and Matthew J. Silva and his wife Helen, and is also survived by twelve grandnieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Cyrino J. Silva. Her funeral service will be held on Friday at 10:00 AM from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 20 Church St., Peabody Facility, followed by a Funeral Mass at11:00 AM in St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Peabody to which relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours on Thursday from 4:00 until 7:00 PM. Burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem.