Of Windham, NH, formerly of Waltham, passed away Thursday, January 5, 2017 at the Eliot Hospital in Manchester. He was 83.
Born and raised in Waltham to the late John J. and Frances (Mooney) MacDonnell, he moved to Bath, ME where he raised his family. After Bath he spent 12 years in Melrose before finally settling in Wyndham, NH in 2002.
Jack served honorably in the United States Army as a Sergeant during the Korean War. He was a graduate of Boston University.
Mr. MacDonnell had several different jobs over the years. He owned and operated the John J. MacDonnell Funeral Home in Waltham for many years. He worked as a truck driver for some time, then for U.S. Steel in Pennsylvania, and as an administrator for Bath Iron Works for many years until his retirement. After his retirement he opened a Pizza shop for Donnell's and ran DiSilva Fruit in Medford.
In his spare time, Jack enjoyed visiting the casino, going on cruises, following the Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, and Notre Dame Football, and most of all spending time with his family.
He is survived by his loving wife Emilia Rosalia (Yurrita) MacDonnell, and was the beloved husband of the late Dolores L. (DiSilva) MacDonnell, his devoted children John J. MacDonnell, Jr. and his wife Linda of Kittery, ME, David V. MacDonnell and his wife Patricia of Jericho, VT, Judith F. Dettorre and her husband Frank of Newbury, Kathleen MacDonald and her husband Stephen of Wilmington, Madelyn Perry and her husband Francis of west Ossipee, NH, James M. MacDonnell of Lisbon, ME, and Vincent T. MacDonnell and his wife Alejandra of Lexington, his step-children Mauricio Yurrita and his wife Ana of Windham, NH, Javier Yurrita and his wife Veronica of Roslindale, Juan Yurrita and his wife Lan of Saugus, and Maria Isabel Biejanski and her husband Ralph of Germany, and his brothers Colonel Thomas MacDonnell and his wife Dorothy of North Carolina, and Kenneth MacDonnell of Weston. He is also survived by 28 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
He was the brother-in-law of the late Anne MacDonnell.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a Funeral Service in celebration of Jack's life at the Mary Catherine Chapel of Brasco & Sons, 773 Moody St., Waltham Monday at 11:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Waltham. Visiting hours will be held Sunday from 2 - 6 p.m. Parking attendants will be on duty.
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