Charlotte Cecelia (Nicholson) Donovan, our great mother, passed away at Cape Cod Hospital on November 17,2014 after a brief illness, just five days short of her 95th birthday.
Charlotte was born on November 22, 1919 in Fall River, MA to Emma and Thomas Nicholson. She was predeceased by her three brothers Fred Nicholson, Ernest Nicholson and Thomas Nicholson. Charlotte was brought up in New Bedford, MA where her family weathered the Great Depression. She graduated from New Bedford High School in 1938 and went to work as a secretary at the Firestone Rubber Company.
When the United States entered World War II in 1941, Charlotte’s three brothers enlisted; two joined the Navy and one joined the Army. Charlotte also wanted to enlist but her brothers asked her to remain at home with their parents. In 1944, despite her brothers’ request, Charlotte enlisted in the Naval Reserve with the intention of serving as a nurse. She completed basic training and was on her way to Bethesda, MD to train at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center when the war ended in 1945. She was honorably discharged as an Apprentice Seaman.
Charlotte then moved to Cape Cod and worked for the Telephone Company as an operator. She made many new friends and enjoyed the beach and social life offered in Hyannis. In 1947 she met Daniel Donovan on a blind date, they were married on February 7, 1948, a marriage that lasted 43 years until Dan’s death in 1991. Dan built two homes for their growing family of four children. They became communicants of St. Francis Xavier Church in Hyannis, where Charlotte was active in the Ladies Guild and Dan volunteered with Catholic Charities. Charlotte’s Catholic faith was her anchor in life. She was a proud “New Deal” democrat and remained a staunch democrat throughout her life, she never missed voting in an election. She followed current events and politics avidly, reading the newspaper every day and following the latest news stories on the evening news shows and CNN. When her children were grown Charlotte worked part-time in retail making many friends and acquaintances along the way. She retired from T.J. Maxx in Hyannis in 2007 at the age of 87.
Charlotte was a stellar homemaker and mother, her children were everything to her. She was a great cook and many, many people enjoyed wonderful home-cooked meals around her table. There was always room for one more. In Charlotte’s later years her children carried on her tradition and she presided over many dinners through the years, always with a smile, a laugh, and a song.
Charlotte is survived by three children, Patrick Donovan and Barbara Donovan of Hyannis, and Mary Anne Donovan of Cambridge. She was, sadly, pre-deceased by her son Michael Donovan in 1977. She had a wonderful life filled with love, faith, friendship and generosity of spirit. She will be missed by many, and remembered by all.
A funeral Mass will be held in her memory on Tuesday, November 25th, at 11am, at St. Francis Xavier Church, 347 South Street, Hyannis, MA. Burial will be private at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.
Charlotte was born on November 22, 1919 in Fall River, MA to Emma and Thomas Nicholson. She was predeceased by her three brothers Fred Nicholson, Ernest Nicholson and Thomas Nicholson. Charlotte was brought up in New Bedford, MA where her family weathered the Great Depression. She graduated from New Bedford High School in 1938 and went to work as a secretary at the Firestone Rubber Company.
When the United States entered World War II in 1941, Charlotte’s three brothers enlisted; two joined the Navy and one joined the Army. Charlotte also wanted to enlist but her brothers asked her to remain at home with their parents. In 1944, despite her brothers’ request, Charlotte enlisted in the Naval Reserve with the intention of serving as a nurse. She completed basic training and was on her way to Bethesda, MD to train at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center when the war ended in 1945. She was honorably discharged as an Apprentice Seaman.
Charlotte then moved to Cape Cod and worked for the Telephone Company as an operator. She made many new friends and enjoyed the beach and social life offered in Hyannis. In 1947 she met Daniel Donovan on a blind date, they were married on February 7, 1948, a marriage that lasted 43 years until Dan’s death in 1991. Dan built two homes for their growing family of four children. They became communicants of St. Francis Xavier Church in Hyannis, where Charlotte was active in the Ladies Guild and Dan volunteered with Catholic Charities. Charlotte’s Catholic faith was her anchor in life. She was a proud “New Deal” democrat and remained a staunch democrat throughout her life, she never missed voting in an election. She followed current events and politics avidly, reading the newspaper every day and following the latest news stories on the evening news shows and CNN. When her children were grown Charlotte worked part-time in retail making many friends and acquaintances along the way. She retired from T.J. Maxx in Hyannis in 2007 at the age of 87.
Charlotte was a stellar homemaker and mother, her children were everything to her. She was a great cook and many, many people enjoyed wonderful home-cooked meals around her table. There was always room for one more. In Charlotte’s later years her children carried on her tradition and she presided over many dinners through the years, always with a smile, a laugh, and a song.
Charlotte is survived by three children, Patrick Donovan and Barbara Donovan of Hyannis, and Mary Anne Donovan of Cambridge. She was, sadly, pre-deceased by her son Michael Donovan in 1977. She had a wonderful life filled with love, faith, friendship and generosity of spirit. She will be missed by many, and remembered by all.
A funeral Mass will be held in her memory on Tuesday, November 25th, at 11am, at St. Francis Xavier Church, 347 South Street, Hyannis, MA. Burial will be private at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.
Charlotte Cecelia (Nicholson) Donovan, our great mother, passed away at Cape Cod Hospital on November 17,2014 after a brief illness, just five days short of her 95th birthday.
Charlotte was born on November 22, 1919 in Fall River, MA to Emma and Thomas Nicholson. She was predeceased by her three brothers Fred Nicholson, Ernest Nicholson and Thomas Nicholson. Charlotte was brought up in New Bedford, MA where her family weathered the Great Depression. She graduated from New Bedford High School in 1938 and went to work as a secretary at the Firestone Rubber Company.
When the United States entered World War II in 1941, Charlotte’s three brothers enlisted; two joined the Navy and one joined the Army. Charlotte also wanted to enlist but her brothers asked her to remain at home with their parents. In 1944, despite her brothers’ request, Charlotte enlisted in the Naval Reserve with the intention of serving as a nurse. She completed basic training and was on her way to Bethesda, MD to train at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center when the war ended in 1945. She was honorably discharged as an Apprentice Seaman.
Charlotte then moved to Cape Cod and worked for the Telephone Company as an operator. She made many new friends and enjoyed the beach and social life offered in Hyannis. In 1947 she met Daniel Donovan on a blind date, they were married on February 7, 1948, a marriage that lasted 43 years until Dan’s death in 1991. Dan built two homes for their growing family of four children. They became communicants of St. Francis Xavier Church in Hyannis, where Charlotte was active in the Ladies Guild and Dan volunteered with Catholic Charities. Charlotte’s Catholic faith was her anchor in life. She was a proud “New Deal” democrat and remained a staunch democrat throughout her life, she never missed voting in an election. She followed current events and politics avidly, reading the newspaper every day and following the latest news stories on the evening news shows and CNN. When her children were grown Charlotte worked part-time in retail making many friends and acquaintances along the way. She retired from T.J. Maxx in Hyannis in 2007 at the age of 87.
Charlotte was a stellar homemaker and mother, her children were everything to her. She was a great cook and many, many people enjoyed wonderful home-cooked meals around her table. There was always room for one more. In Charlotte’s later years her children carried on her tradition and she presided over many dinners through the years, always with a smile, a laugh, and a song.
Charlotte is survived by three children, Patrick Donovan and Barbara Donovan of Hyannis, and Mary Anne Donovan of Cambridge. She was, sadly, pre-deceased by her son Michael Donovan in 1977. She had a wonderful life filled with love, faith, friendship and generosity of spirit. She will be missed by many, and remembered by all.
A funeral Mass will be held in her memory on Tuesday, November 25th, at 11am, at St. Francis Xavier Church, 347 South Street, Hyannis, MA. Burial will be private at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.
Charlotte was born on November 22, 1919 in Fall River, MA to Emma and Thomas Nicholson. She was predeceased by her three brothers Fred Nicholson, Ernest Nicholson and Thomas Nicholson. Charlotte was brought up in New Bedford, MA where her family weathered the Great Depression. She graduated from New Bedford High School in 1938 and went to work as a secretary at the Firestone Rubber Company.
When the United States entered World War II in 1941, Charlotte’s three brothers enlisted; two joined the Navy and one joined the Army. Charlotte also wanted to enlist but her brothers asked her to remain at home with their parents. In 1944, despite her brothers’ request, Charlotte enlisted in the Naval Reserve with the intention of serving as a nurse. She completed basic training and was on her way to Bethesda, MD to train at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center when the war ended in 1945. She was honorably discharged as an Apprentice Seaman.
Charlotte then moved to Cape Cod and worked for the Telephone Company as an operator. She made many new friends and enjoyed the beach and social life offered in Hyannis. In 1947 she met Daniel Donovan on a blind date, they were married on February 7, 1948, a marriage that lasted 43 years until Dan’s death in 1991. Dan built two homes for their growing family of four children. They became communicants of St. Francis Xavier Church in Hyannis, where Charlotte was active in the Ladies Guild and Dan volunteered with Catholic Charities. Charlotte’s Catholic faith was her anchor in life. She was a proud “New Deal” democrat and remained a staunch democrat throughout her life, she never missed voting in an election. She followed current events and politics avidly, reading the newspaper every day and following the latest news stories on the evening news shows and CNN. When her children were grown Charlotte worked part-time in retail making many friends and acquaintances along the way. She retired from T.J. Maxx in Hyannis in 2007 at the age of 87.
Charlotte was a stellar homemaker and mother, her children were everything to her. She was a great cook and many, many people enjoyed wonderful home-cooked meals around her table. There was always room for one more. In Charlotte’s later years her children carried on her tradition and she presided over many dinners through the years, always with a smile, a laugh, and a song.
Charlotte is survived by three children, Patrick Donovan and Barbara Donovan of Hyannis, and Mary Anne Donovan of Cambridge. She was, sadly, pre-deceased by her son Michael Donovan in 1977. She had a wonderful life filled with love, faith, friendship and generosity of spirit. She will be missed by many, and remembered by all.
A funeral Mass will be held in her memory on Tuesday, November 25th, at 11am, at St. Francis Xavier Church, 347 South Street, Hyannis, MA. Burial will be private at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.
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