Obituary of Sister Walter Marie Donohue, OSF

Sister Walter Marie Donohue went home to God on Sunday, October 12, 2014 in St. Joseph Hospital. Sister had just celebrated her 99 birthday and had been a Sister of St. Francis for 76 years. She was born in Rome, NY to William and Florence (Noonan) Donohue. Sister graduated from St. Elizabeth's School of Nursing; received a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing Education from Catholic University in Washington, D.C.; and a Master's Degree in Nursing Education from St. John's University in Brooklyn, NY. For over seventy years, Sister's life was devoted to the ministry of caring for the sick and dying. She was a nurse at St. Joseph Hospital and spent 56 years at St. Elizabeth Hospital. While at St. Elizabeth Hospital she worked in clinical nursing, teaching and administration. For 22 years she served as the Director of the School of Nursing and Dean of the College of Nursing when its name was changed. Sister also began the weekend nursing program. Sister will be remembered for her devoted service to her community and for her many years of dedication, vision, and positive influence on the thousands of young men and women nurses who graduated from St. Elizabeth School of Nursing. She truly endeared herself to those whom she encountered. Sister was predeceased by three sisters, Sister Elizabeth (Mary) Donohue, DC, Marie Lavergne, Alice Donohue and three brothers, William Jr., John (Jack) and Samuel. She is survived by three nieces, Carol (Robert) Griffin, Mary Rose (Michael) Spellicy, Sheila (Jeff) Conley and three nephews, Greg (Marta) Donohue, Michael (Susan) Donohue, John (Martha) Donohue and a sister-in-law, Rosemary Donohue. Sister is also survived by several great nieces, nephews and the Sisters of St. Francis. Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 7:00PM in the Franciscan Villa Chapel, 6900 Buckley Road, Syracuse, NY 13212. Calling hours will be from 3:30PM until 6:30PM Thursday prior to the Mass in the Chapel. A farewell service will be 8:30 AM on Friday, October 17, in the Chapel. Interment will follow at Assumption Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, Mission Advancement Office, 6900 Buckley Road, Syracuse, NY 13212.