Mary Louise Donnelly

Mary Louise Donnelly was an extraordinary woman. She was born in San Diego April 8 1925, attended Sacred Heart School and graduated from the Academy of Our Lady of Peace in 1942. During World War II, she worked at Consolidated Aircraft as a clerk. She was married to Donald Joseph Donnelly for 58 years, until his death in 2003. Until 6 years ago, she led Girl Scout Troop 21, helping junior and senior high girls grow and mature, taking them on trips, teaching them to camp, encouraging them to find and develop their interests. In all, Mrs. Donnelly was a Girl Scout volunteer for nearly 70 years.

She was an active volunteer with St. Patrick’s Catholic Church as a lector, Eucharistic Minister, brought communion to the sick and homebound, and enjoyed being a CCD teacher. Mrs. Donnelly began working outside the home when her youngest child started kindergarten, working for her brother’s plumbing business. She was a school clerk and registrar at O’Farrell Middle School, Snyder Continuation School, and Garfield HIgh School for 22 years. Upon her retirement, she became more involved in training adult leaders of Girl Scouts, while still keeping an active Girl Scout troop, even though her daughters had long ago aged out of the troop. All of her granddaughters who lived in the San Diego area were in troop 21 at some point. She directed day camps nearly every summer, and planned creative adventures and activities for scouts. When her sons were young, she was a Den Mother for Cub Scouts, and was always ready to volunteer as a driver for Boy Scout trips.

Mary Louise is survived by her sister, Cecilia Decker (Jim), her children, J. Christopher, Kathleen Israel, Martin (Bernadette), James, Maureen Rymer (David), and Susan Hamilton, 20 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. She was a great mentor of young people and adults alike, with a great deal of experience and common sense. She passed away at home, surrounded by loved ones, on December 4, 2018 at age 93, after 5 months in hospice care. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Patrick’s School in North Park, and to Girl Scouts, San Diego-Imperial Council.

There will be a viewing at Goodbody Mortuary (5027 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego) on Thursday December 13, 2018 from 4 to 8 PM. A rosary will be said at 10:30 AM on Friday December 14, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in North Park (3585 30th St. San Diego), followed by a mass to celebrate Mrs. Donnelly’s life. Internment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery.