Marie Rose Donnelly

Mrs. Marie Rose Donnelly, 77, of Frederick, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Sunday, December 13, 2009, at Homewood at Crumland Farms. She was the beloved wife of Paul B. Donnelly, Sr. for almost 50 years.

Born August 1, 1932, in Mystic, Connecticut, she was the daughter of the late Pasquale and Lorita Fiorino.

Mrs. Donnelly was a member of St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church. She graduated as class valedictorian from Stonington High School in Stonington, CT. She was the first female winner of the Tricentennial Scholarship given by the Atwood Machine Company. Rose was a registered Pharmacist. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Rhode Island College of Pharmacy and Allied Sciences. She later attended Rhode Island College where she obtained her teaching certification. She taught math and science for several years at a high school in Providence, RI.

After getting married, Rose gave up her careers to be a loving and devoted wife and mother. She adored her grandchildren and always loved spending time with them. She enjoyed gardening, drawing and painting, sewing and many other crafts.

Surviving in addition to her loving husband are three children, Dr. Rosemarie Festog and husband Monte of Frederick, Margaret Ramos and husband Les of Weatherford, OK and Patrick Donnelly and wife Julia of Walkersville; five grandchildren, Matthew, Kristen Marie and Daniel Festog, Nicholas Ramos and Catherine Rose Donnelly; and a sister, Lorita Jussila and husband Peter of Warwick, RI. She was preceded in death by a son, Paul B. Donnelly, Jr.

Rose will also be remembered by the many nurses and other staff members at Homewood at Crumland Farms who took wonderful and compassionate care of her during the past several years.

Visitation: The family will receive friends at the Stauffer Funeral Home, 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick on Thursday, December 17th from 2-4 and 7-9 PM.

Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 18th at 1 PM at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, 116 East 2nd Street, Frederick with Rev. Keith W. Boisvert officiating.

Interment will be in St. Ann's Cemetery in Cranston, RI.

Memorial contributions may be made to Homewood at Crumland Farms, the Willows Fund, 7407 Willow Rd., Frederick, MD 21702 or to the St. Katherine Drexel Building Fund, 8428 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, MD 21702.