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Gloucester — Helen A. (Mauceri) Donovan, 101, wife of the late Arthur H. Donovan of Gloucester, formally of Winchester and North Fort Myers, Fla., passed away peacefully in her sleep early Monday morning, November 26, 2012 at the Seacoast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Gloucester.
She was born in Lawrence, on August 1, 1911, daughter of the late Archilles and Corradina (Presti) Mauceri.
She was employed for many years as an office assistant at W. Allen Wilde Insurance Agency in Winchester before retiring with Arthur to spend the winter months in Florida. Every spring they would return to spend the summer months on Conomo Point, Essex. In 1996 they returned to Cape Ann to live year round.
While in Winchester, she was very active in the Women's Sodality and Catholic Daughters of America. Throughout her life she enjoyed sewing, knitting, baking (especially her favorite cookies at Christmas time). Playing bridge, bingo, word games, arts and crafts and square dancing with Arthur were also her favorite pastimes.
She is survived by two daughters, Mary E. Brown and her husband, Bruce of Gloucester and Anne H. Donovan of South Boston; her son, Francis W. “Frank” Donovan and his wife, Suzanne of Plantation, Fla.; seven grandchildren, Kimberly Brown of Phoenix, Karen Martin of No. Reading, Dawn Sergeant of Rutland, Vt., Deborah Secchia of Yardley, Pa., Bruce Jr. of No. Chelmsford, Christine Donovan of Deerfield Beach, and Carey Osbourn of Boca Raton; 11 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by two sisters, Mary Perlupo and Constance Mauceri of Winchester and her brother, Joseph Mauceri of Revere.
ARRANGEMENTS: Her funeral will be held from the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington St., Gloucester on Monday, December 3, at 9:15 a.m. followed by a Mass in St. John the Baptist Church, Essex at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. The burial will be held in Wildwood Cemetery, Winchester, MA.
Visiting hours in the Greely Funeral Home are on Sunday from 6 - 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her name to Hospice of the North Shore, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923 or to the Seacoast Nursing Center, Washington St., Gloucester, MA 01930.
Online condolences may be given at www.greelyfuneralhome.com
