Eleanor M. Donovan

Eleanor M. Donovan (Dwyer) of Weymouth, passed away peacefully on December 6, 2023. She was 90 years old.

Born in Dorchester she was the daughter of the late George and Mary (Callahan) Dwyer. Educated in Boston she graduated from Msgr. Ryan Memorial High School in Dorchester and went on to graduate from Burdett College in Boston. Eleanor met her husband Thomas (Dunny) and the two were married at St. Margaret’s (of course) in 1956.

Eleanor’s strong love for family and friends began in the Dwyer’s home on Sudan Street in Dorchester where she developed bonds that lasted her whole life. Eleanor did well at school and was working part-time in high school – the start of a many years in the workforce. Howard’s Clothes, The Mallory Institute, Leary Laboratories, Smith Kline and The Beacon Companies. Eleanor volunteered at the Whipple Senior Center and was very active at St. Albert’s the Great Church in Weymouth. She was involved in the sit-in to keep that great church open.

Eleanor met the love of her life Dunny through her cousin Dottie. After Dunny returned from the Korean War, they were married and the rest is history.

After a few years, they would all buy a 2-family house on Wilmington Ave with her younger sister Bernadette and her husband George Steele. Later after Eleanor & Dunny (& Mark & Michael) moved to Weymouth, Bernadette & George (& Paul) bought house around the corner keeping the gang together. In the Weymouth neighborhood, more life-long relationships were made.

Eleanor and Bernadette’s families enjoyed good times and helped each other through bad times. The sisters helped each other through the loss of their husbands. Eleanor & Bernadette’s strong bond continued these last couple of years as they lived together at the Pope Nursing Home where Bernadette was the rock for her sister Eleanor to lean on. Bernadette was by her side right up to the end.

Eleanor loved her many cousins, niece/nephews (including grand & great), God-children, and of course her grandchildren whom she especially enjoyed watching play sports.

Eleanor enjoyed many activities but none made her happier than helping a friend or family member with a ride to the store or a doctors appointment or a wake (Eleanor was probably second only to Dapper O’Neill in this category). She was not afraid to play a casino game (or two), maybe a daily double occasionally & of course her daily numbers. She also enjoyed watching the Red Sox and Bruins.

Eleanor will be missed by all who knew her and will be met in Heaven by all her loved ones waiting for her.

Loving wife of the late Thomas J. Donovan. Beloved mother of Mark Donovan and his wife Sheila of Braintree and Michael Donovan and his wife Patricia of Kingston, Cherished sister of Bernadette Steele and her late husband George of Weymouth. Devoted grandmother of Thomas, Patrick, Siobhan, Owen, Michael, Nora and Sean Donovan. She will also be missed by many extended family members and friends.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to greet the family during the visiting hours on Monday 4-8 PM in the McDonald Keohane Funeral Home SOUTH WEYMOUTH at 809 Main Street (Rte 18 opp. So. Shore Hospital). Funeral Mass in St. Albert the Great Church, Weymouth on Tuesday at 10 AM. Burial to follow in New Calvary Cemetery, Boston.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Eleanor may be made to Weymouth Elder Services, 182 Green St. North Weymouth, 02191,