Jean Mcdonald

Jean “Cookie” E. (O’Brien) McDonald, of Whitman passed away peacefully in her sleep September 28, 2016, at the age of 87. Daughter of the late Dr. Walter and Althea O’Brien of Quincy. Wife of the late David J. McDonald.

Jean was born in Boston. She attended St. Johns Parochial School in Quincy Class of 1942 and she was a graduate of Woodward School for Girls in Quincy Class of 1946. Before moving to NH she worked at N.E. Telephone Company and Mass Bonding in Boston.  Coming to Whitman in the 50’s she opened a small restaurant and donut shop on South Ave, and later moved to Hayden Ave and Whitman Ave., where she started a catering service for 13 years. She catered Duxbury Rotary, E. Bridgewater Kiwanis, and Tri-Town Rotary until 1973. For 31 years she sold Fuller Brush and recruited for them as well. She won many awards. She was a member and volunteer of the Friends of the Seniors Center, and she was the telephone outreach person, calling seniors during the day to check on them. She served on 2 committees during the Gulf War, Friends of Desert Storm, and she received a commendation from the U.S. Army 181 National Guard Regiment, which went to the Gulf War from Whitman, which her grandson was in.  She was a member of the Friends of Whitman and the Whitman Women’s Club. She was a member and retiree of the State County Municipal Employee’s Assoc. Jean loved to go the the Red Jacket Resort with family. It was her “home away from home”. She wanted to be with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren there as often as possible. At 80 she was named the Red Jacket Ambassador. Every holiday was a “Special family day”.

She is survived by her children Jane M. Pike and her husband Gregory of Rollinsford, NH and John J. Blaauw and his wife Susan of Sagamore Beach. Sister of Lois-Ann Risi of Scituate, and the late Janet Doyle. Proud grandmother of Greg, Amy, Debra, and Pieter, and great-grandchildren Sarah, Nicholas, Crystal, Brenda, Jonathan, Brendan, Ava Grace, Andrew and 1 late great-grandchild Linda J. Pike, and also survived by her great-great grandson Damien, and several nieces and nephews. Longtime friend and sweetheart of Richard C. Washburn of Whitman.

Relatives and friends invited to attend visiting hours in the MacKinnon Funeral Home, 760 Washington St., Whitman Monday Oct. 3 ^rd 4-7 pm. Funeral Service on Tuesday in the Funeral Home at 10 am. Burial to follow at Colebrook Cemetery in Whitman. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Jean’s memory to Whitman Food Pantry, P.O. Box 560 Whitman, MA 02382.