HOULTON – Francis John O’Donnell, 84, died May 17, 2011, in Houlton. He was born Nov. 4, 1926, in Johnsville, New Brunswick, one of 12 children to John and Lucy (Dugan) O’Donnell.
Francis was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He served in the National Guard Battery B152 for 34 years. Command Sgt. Maj. O’Donnell retired in 1983. He worked for AE Staley Manufacturing for 34 years and enjoyed gardening, playing cards, visiting the “farm” and spending time with his family. He was a devoted Red Sox and Celtics fan.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Barbara (McClay) O’Donnell; seven children, Mary and Ritchie Guilford, Marguerite and Timothy Cowan, Timothy and Sharon O’Donnell, Michael and Marcia O’Donnell, Jean and Martin Goldsmith, Douglas and Tammy O’Donnell, and Jane and Mark Hutchinson; 18 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren; siblings, Katherine Fitzpatrick, Helen Warner, Allen O’Donnell, Stella Gordon, Clifford O’Donnell, Margaret Halleck and Gerald O’Donnell; and two sisters-in-law, Marcia O’Donnell and Eileen O’Donnell. He was predeceased by his brothers, Eugene, Dennis and Donald; and one sister, Alice.
Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Sunday at Bowers Funeral Home, 10 Water St., Houlton. A Mass of Christian burial will be held 10 a.m. Monday at St. Mary’s of the Visitation, Houlton, with Father Roger Cyr, celebrant. Interment will be held 9 a.m. June 2 at Maine Veterans Cemetery, Augusta. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations in Francis’ memory be made to St. Mary of the Visitation, 110 Military St., Houlton, ME 04730 or Madigan Estates Nursing Home Activities Fund, 93 Military St., Houlton, ME 04730. For an online memory book and to send condolences, please visit
www.bowersfuneral.com.