Donna Mae McQueeney

Donna Mae McQueeney of South Windsor CT died Monday, October 8 at St. Francis Hospital & Medical Center. Donna was born in Hartford to Donald J. and Ina Mae McQueeney and shared her life with her siblings, Dennis McQueeney, Patricia Lee and Eileen McQueeney. Donna graduated from George J. Penney High School, East Hartford, Central Connecticut State College, New Britain, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Saint Joseph’s College, West Hartford. Donna dedicated her life to skilled nursing, geriatric care and sub-acute rehab, serving in a supervisory role at healthcare facilities throughout Connecticut.

Donnie had a great love for animals – especially her cat Lily; she was a big fan of Bruce Springsteen and played his tunes endlessly; she visited Block Island more than anyone on earth; she loved sewing, browsing consignment stores, and cooking…trying endless recipes for Mac ‘n Cheese in hopes of replicating the delicious one her mother made when Donnie and her siblings were kids.

Donnie waged a short, but ferocious fight with pancreatic cancer and it was difficult to watch such a beautiful spirit succumb to the ravages of such an insidious disease. It was her grace and strength that carried us along her journey. Her family will be eternally grateful for the compassionate care of Dr. James F. Flaherty and Dr. Joel S. Silver, their medical teams, and the individualized and tender care she received from St. Francis Hospital Emergency, Oncology, Palliative and Hospice Care staff. She couldn’t have been in better hands.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Dennis. She leaves beautiful memories to her sister and brother-in-law Patty and Jeff Lee, their children Kathleen and AnnMarie and their families; her sister Eileen McQueeney of East Hartford, former husband and dear friend, Greg Lee of West Hartford, and many McQueeney, Scully, Sullivan and Wilcox cousins.

At Donna’s request, interment will be private and at the convenience of her family. Friends and family are invited to a Celebration of Life on Sunday, October 28 between 1 and 4 pm at the home of Jeff and Patty Lee, West Hartford. Please email [email protected] for the address. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Pancreatic Cancer Research, St. Francis Hospital & Medical Center or Out to Pasture Farm & Rescue, Inc., P.O. Box 310174, Newington, CT 06131-0174. And for those who knit or crochet, please consider making a prayer shawl for a future patient at St. Francis Hospital, c/o Heidi Cutter, Unit 8-1, 114 Woodland Street, Hartford CT 06105. Please visit www.desopoeh.com for online expressions of sympathy.

“Perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in heaven, where the love of our lost one pours through and shines down upon us to let us know their souls are at peace.”