MCDONOUGH FUNERAL HOME - Key Persons
HOLLIS NH Agnes (Wilson) Shaw, 95, of Hollis, NH, formerly of Lowell, died Sunday, January 25, 2009, at D'Youville Senior Health Care Center after a brief illness. She was the widow of the late Josiah A. Shaw.
A daughter of the late Hugh and the late Catherine (Lehame) Wilson, she was born October 13, 1913, in Lowell, and educated in the local schools.
For over twenty five years she worked for Town and Country Nursing Home prior to her retirement.
She is survived by a son, Gerald K. Shaw and his wife, Marilyn (Donlon), of Hollis, NH; two grandchildren, David Shaw and his wife, Carey, of Milford, NH, and Laurel Ann Shaw of Allenstown, NH; four great grand children, Jessica L. Shaw, Joshua Shaw, and Cassandra Shaw all of Milford, NH, and Stepanie Tingley of Bennington, NH; and several nieces, nephew, and cousins.
She was also the sister of the late Catherine Wilson Wayne, the late Mary Wilson Richter, and the late Margaret Wilson Richter.
NAPLES, FLORIDA Daniel John Silva, 53, of Naples, Florida, formerly of Lowell, died unexpectedly, September 25, 2017, in Florida.
He was born January 4, 1964, in Lowell, the eldest son of Beatrice A. (Lemieux) Silva of Beverly, MA and the late Elmiro Reis Silva and attended Saint Peter's Catholic Grammar School and graduated from Billerica High School.
Daniel moved to Naples, Florida, with his parents in 1982, and worked in the family business, Silvas Lawn Care and Rental Properties. He enjoyed collecting die cast cars, music and jukeboxes.
In addition to his mother, Beatrice, he is survived by his partner of twenty eight years, Laura Gerold of Naples, FL; his brothers, John D. Silva of Amesbury, MA, and Anthony Silva and his wife, Trudy Anne, of Marietta, GA; his aunts and uncles, Idalmira Reis Silva of North Brookfield, MA, Elydia Noble of Clearwater, FL, Lorraine Aube and her husband, Bob, of Beverly, MA, Philip Lemieux and his wife, Linda, of Lowell, Andrea DeAngeleis of Lowell, Arlindo Silva and his wife, Alice, of Salem, NH, and Louis Silva and his wife, Gail, of Kissemmee, FL; as well as many cousins, his dog, Bandit.
He was also the grandson of the late John Basillio Silva and the late Maria Reis Silva and the late Aurora (Buxton) Silva and the late John Isadore Lemieux.
John McDonough serves as the Funeral Director and owner of multiple funeral homes in Lowell, Massachusetts, USA. He is associated with McDonough Funeral Home on 14 Highland Street (Telephone: 978-458-6816), Mahoney Funeral Home (Telephone: 978-452-6361), and Tewksbury Funeral Home on 1 Dewey Street, Tewksbury, Massachusetts (Telephone: 978-851-2061)
Married to his high school sweetheart, Dr. Ellen T. (Wayne) McDonough, they share two sons, Jack (married to Shannon Wilkey) and Joe (married to Anne), along with four grandchildren: Zoey, Adeline, Morgan, and Luke. Both sons actively participate in the family tradition of funeral service that has been upheld since 1885.
Aside from his responsibilities in the funeral industry, John has a keen interest in communications. He has engaged in one-on-one conversations with notable figures such as former President George W. Bush, Former Massachusetts Governors Deval Patrick and Mitt Romney, Governor Charlie Baker, current Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, the late Senator Ted Kennedy, Former Senator Scott Brown, Secretary of State John Kerry, and Congresswoman Niki Tsongas and most local elected officials.
John is a member of various organizations, including Lowell Telecommunications, The East End Club, The Lowell Lodge of Elks B.P.O.E 87, the Lowell Plan, the 100 Club of Massachusetts, Funeral Service Professional Association, National Funeral Directors Association, Massachusetts Funeral Directors Association, and Harley Owners Group "HOG." And the National Rifle Association and was a broadcaster on local radio for years.
Recognized for his leadership in incorporating technology into the funeral industry, Mr. McDonough has been featured in Time Digital Magazine and Inc. Technology Magazine. He founded both the Electronic Funeral Service Association and the Funeral Service Professional Association, likely the world's largest funeral professional association with over forty thousand online patricipants.
John has testified at Federal Trade Commission hearings, advocating for honesty in consumer dealings and fair wages for funeral home employees. He serves as a valuable resource for State Boards, Death Care Associations, professional magazines, newsletters, and funeral-related television and radio broadcasts.
His current project involves creating a live daily television program for community interaction the Dawn Patrol and The City Life Show, broadcasting on Lowell Telecommunications Corporation, Dracut Access Television, Tewksbury TV, Tyngsborough TV, Chelmsford Telemedia and simulcast on the internet and Facebook live.
LOWELL Abraham Cosme, 70, of Lowell, died Monday, April 22, 2013, after a brief illness. He was the husband of Joanne M. Curtis.
Born February 10, 1943, in Puerto Rico, he was a son of the late Juan Cosme and the late Julia (Santiago) Cosme,and was educated in that area.
Abraham moved with his family to Lowell in 1970, and made his home in Lowell until his death. He worked as a machine operator for Joan Fabrics for more than ten years. He enjoyed fishing and camping with his family and friends.
In addition to his wife, Joanne, he is survived by his children, Maria C. Cosme of Lowell, Nelson Taylor of Hollywood, FL, Dennise DeJesus of Maine, Maria DeJesus of Maine, Abraham J. Curtis of Lowell, and Jaime Cosme of Nashua, NH; his step son, Robert Isaac of Nashua, NH; his step daughter, Elizabeth Isaac of Puerto Rico; twenty five grandchildren including Julia Pagan, Renaldo Cosme, Awilda Cosme, and Fernando R. Reyes who all lived with him; a great granddaughter, Anali Pagan all of Lowell; as well as his many friends including his close friend and cousin, Jaime Santiago of Lowell; and his extended family in Puerto Rico.
He was also the father of the late Awilda Alicia and the late Silkia Medina.
LOWELL Albertina Sousa, 90, of Lowell, passed away Monday, October 22, 2018, at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was the widow of the late Jose Paulo Sousa who died in 1998, with whom she had shared Forty Five years of Marriage.
A daughter of the late Alberto Morais and the late Silvina Morais, she was born May 27, 1928, in Faja Dos Vimes, Sao Jorge, Azores, Portugal, and was raised and educated in that area. In 1975, she came to the Untied States with her family, settling in Lowell. She worked for the former Grace Shoe for several years.
For many years, she made her home on Pleasant Street in Lowell. After her husband's death, she moved to the Pawtucketville Section of the City. She was a communicant of St. Anthony's Church and a member of the Holy Rosary Sodality. Albertina loved spending time with family and especially enjoyed when the entire family came together for Holidays or celebrations. She also enjoyed crocheting.
She is survived by her children, Irene Nunes and her husband, Jose, of Lowell, Maria S. Borges and her husband, Germano, of Dracut, Paul M. Sousa and his wife, Maria, of Lowell, Fernanda Silveira and her husband, Arthur, of Lowell, Helder Sousa and his wife, Maria (Guadalupe), of Tewksbury, Silvina Aguiar and her husband, Joao, of Pelham, NH, Ilidio M. Sousa and his wife, Michelle, of Lowell, and Abilio Sousa and his wife, Cathy, of North Chelmsford; her grandchildren Paula and her husband Tito, Mike and his wife Kerri, Sonia and her husband Justin, Sandra and her husband Carlos, Danny and his wife Kerry, Ashley, Andy, Marcio, Alex, Chris and his wife Cara, Jonathan, Tiago, Nadia, Landon, Nathan, and her great grandchildren, Matthew, Emma, Dominic, Ethan, Eva, Lucas, Raquel, Stella, Emerson, Caileigh, Connor; her brothers and sister, Julio and his wife Sarafina, Maria Sao Pedro, Rita, Idalina, Leocadia, Laurinda and her husband Antonio, Fr. Abilio; her brothers and sisters in law, Antonio and his wife Matilde, Manuel and his wife Maria, Adelina and her husband Jose. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
She was also the mother of the late Paulo Jorge Sousa, and the late Evangelina Sousa, and sister of the late Honoria and Maria Do Rosario.
Born August 5, 1944, in Albany Georgia, he was a son of the late Milton Stroud II, and the late Ida M. (Flowers) Stroud. He was educated in Georgia, and graduated from Monroe High with the class of 1962, where he was a standout football player, and would later play semi professionally. More recently, he graduated from Middlesex Community College in Bedford in 2005 with a degree in Drug and Alcohol Counseling.
Mr. Stroud enlisted in the United States Air Force as soon as he finished high school, serving for four years as a Medic, including one tour in Vietnam. Upon returning from Vietnam, he received an honorable discharge from his service to his country. He worked in Human Services as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor, Mentor, and Life Coach for over 30 years, helping countless individuals throughout his life.
He was an accomplished musician, he played the trombone, the tuba, and the drums, and he was also a talented singer.
Mr. Stroud was a devout Christian, and a Deacon at his church, The New Life Christian Community Church in Lowell.
Besides his wife Ann Marie Stroud, he is survived by ten children, Milton Darnell Stroud of Pennsylvania, Anita R. Stroud of Georgia, Michael A. Stroud of Connecticut, Sanovia Stroud of Malden, Mark A. Smith of Melrose, Patrick T.S. Stroud of Everett, Clearence E. Close of Pennsylvania, Timothy L. Close of Pennsylvania, Tina M. Close of Pennsylvania, and Renee P. Close of Lowell. He is also survived by three sisters, Dorothy Amos-Millein of Malden, Letitia Stroud of Everett, Joanne Stroud-LeBeau of Malden, a brother Ulysses B. Stroud of Malden; Three aunts Dorothy Langston of Malden, Exie Harris of Bartow, Florida, Joyce Stroud of Alabama. He is also survived by 26 Grandchildren, many great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends.
DRACUT Rita A. Collins, 81, entered into eternal life on April 17, 2017 surrounded by her family. She was the daughter of the late Eli and the late Mary Louise (Lord) Lavoie. Rita was the loving wife of Dennis Collins for the past sixty years.
She was born in Lowell and attended Lowell Public Schools. She traveled the United States with her family from California, Tennessee, Missouri, Iowa, and Minnesota before returning to New England, settling in Dracut, MA.
Rita loved reading, singing, and collecting dolls. She always enjoyed a good Bingo game, and spending time with her family and friends, especially her grandchildren. Rita was a homemaker and had also worked for Sears in Hudson, NH and then later worked for Sears in Lawrence for a number of years.
She is survived by her loving husband, Dennis ‘Joe' Collins of Dracut; her daughter, Mary Ellen Bednarski and her husband, Mark, of Scituate, RI; her son, Dennis Collins, Jr. and his wife, Monica, of Eden Valley, MN; her daughter, Kelly Greenberg and her husband, Steve, of Las Vegas, NV; her daughter, Kimberly Matusiak and her husband, Adam, of Lowell, MA; her daughter, Tracy Carter of Hudson, NH; and her son, Sean Collins of Dracut, MA. She is also survived by ten grandchildren, Christopher, Erin, Jillian, Karleigh, Alex, Emily, Ryan, Zach, Brittney, and Sydney; three great grandchildren, Harley, Greyson and Camden; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents, Eli and Mary Louise, Rita was predeceased by her dear sister, Elizabeth ‘Betty' O'Hearn and her husband, Brian; and her brothers, Richard, Arthur and Edward.