IN MEMORIAM
Michael R. Donnell, 85; Deacon
In Catholic Church For 30 Years
FRANKLIN – Michael Raymond Donnell, Sr., who for 30 was a permanent deacon in the Roman Catholic Church, serving the faithful in Franklin and Sidney, died peacefully at home on July 9, 2016.
He was born in Springfield, Mass., on June 12, 1931, son of Raymond F. and Alma (Kreiger) Donnell. He was raised in Darien, Conn., and graduated from Darien High School in 1949 and Suffield Academy in 1950.
Mike attended Connecticut Engineering Institute and served in the Coast Guard, being honorably discharged as a first class petty officer.
On July 10, 1950, he married Kathleen Callahan at St. Mary’s Church in Norwalk, Conn. Mike and Kathleen resided in Darien for 13 years, where Mike worked first for the Connecticut Light & Power Co., and then as a partner in Henrici Associated, land surveyors.
In 1967, Mike and Kathleen bought a dairy farm in Franklin, which they sold in 1986 and retired.
On Oct. 4, of that year Mike, having completed his diaconate studies, was ordained, along with 18 classmates, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, by Bishop Howard Hubbard, and began his ministry as a permanent deacon in the Roman Catholic Church.
Bishop Hubbard assigned him to the mission church of Sacred Heart of Sidney where, in the absence of a resident priest, he was the ministerial presence to the Catholic Community as well as in the Town of Franklin.
He performed baptisms, funerals and prayer services at nursing homes, and made countless individual visits to the homebound and dying of all faiths.
For all 30 years, he was active in the ecumenical Interchurch Council of Franklin and served as its chairman for 27 years.
In addition to his wife of 62 years, he is survived by children Michael Donnell Jr., Gregory Donnell, Mark Donnell, Kathy (Ted) Krisowaty and Lauren (David) Main; daughter-in-law Charlene Donnell; grandchildren Kevin, Robert, Raymond, Malcolm, Lynda, Andrea, Megan, Norman and Nicole.
Calling hours are 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, July 12, at C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, Sidney. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 13, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Sidney. Burial will follow in Ouleout Valley Cemetery, Franklin.
Donations in Mike’s memory may be made to Catskill Area Hospice, 1 Birchwood Drive Oneonta, NY 13820. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family online at www.landersfh.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, Sidney
