October 22, 2009  

WATERTOWN, N.Y.  —  Jean K. Donoghue, 78, of N. Indiana Avenue, passed away Thursday morning, Oct. 22, at her home.

Calling hours will be held 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, at Cummings Funeral Service, Inc., 214 Sterling St., Watertown. A prayer service will be held 10:15 a.m. Monday, Oct. 26, at the funeral home followed by the funeral Mass celebrated at 11 a.m. at Holy Family Church with Rev. Steven Murray officiating. Entombment will be in Glenwood Mausoleum.

Mrs. Donoghue was born in Ogdensburg on Feb. 25, 1931, the daughter of Edgar J. and Alida Doe Kelly. She graduated from Immaculate Heart Academy in 1948 and from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in 1951, where she received her diploma as a registered nurse.

She married John J. Donoghue Jr. on June 6, 1953, at Holy Family Church with Rev. Donald Kelly, her uncle, officiating.

From 1951 until her retirement in 1991, she was a registered nurse at Mercy Hospital. She was a communicant of Holy Family Church and had been a member of its school board. She was a member of Mercy School of Nursing Alumni Assoc. and met monthly for lunch with other retired nurses.

She was an avid bridge player, playing with the same players in the Bridge Club since 1951. 

She enjoyed reading, being outdoors, entertaining family at her home, and loved corresponding with friends and family with cards and letters.

Besides her husband of 56 years, John, she is survived by her five children, Eileen D. Decent, Watertown, Jack Donoghue, Orwell, Michael J. and Kelly Donoghue, Summerville, S.C., Patrick J. Donoghue, Fayetteville, and Nancy D. and Stephen D. Laverty, Watertown; seven grandchildren and one expected this week; two sisters, Kathleen K. Beattie, Phoenix, Ariz., and Sr. James Marie Kelly, SSJ, Watertown; a sister-in-law, Caroline Kelly, Watertown; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was predeceased by a grandson, Robert T. Decent, Jr., in infancy, and her brother, Donald L. Kelly.

Donations may be made in her name to either Immaculate Heart Central School, 1316 Ives St., Watertown, NY 13601 or to Unity Acres, P. O. Box 153, Co. Rt. 2, Orwell, NY 13426.

Information provided by Cummings Funeral Service and Newzjunky.com, Watertown