April 18 2019: O’DONNELL, Joanne Marie

Joanne Marie O’Donnell

Joanne Marie O’Donnell died at her home on April 17, 2019, from complications related to a stroke.

Joanne was born in Auburn, New York, on June 27, 1930.  She attended the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Rochester, New York, graduating as valedictorian in 1948.  She then studied nursing at the Catholic University of America where she was elected class president of the Nursing School her freshmen and sophomore years. It was at CUA that she met her future husband John Joseph O’Donnell, Jr.  They were married in Washington, D.C., on December 28, 1950.

The couple settled in Washington, D.C. and then moved to Bethesda, Md., where they raised their eight children.  In addition to her responsibilities as a homemaker, Joanne was active in her parish, St. Jane Frances de Chantal.  She taught religious education classes and served as the Director of Religious Education at the parish. In addition, she served as the Treasurer of the Catholic Daughters of America, and later as a volunteer at the Catholic Information Center in Washington, D.C.

Joanne was a champion for pro-life causes.  In 1976, she was elected as a delegate to Democratic National Convention to represent candidate Ellen McCormack, an avid pro-life advocate. McCormack launched a campaign for President as a Democrat in 1976, made it onto the ballot in 18 states – winning 238,000 votes during the Democratic presidential primary- and became the first female presidential candidate to qualify for federal matching funds.

Joanne is survived by seven of her eight children: Anne Donnally of Silver Spring, Md.; James O’Donnell of Brunswick, Md.; Amy O’Donnell of Silver Spring, Md.; Mary Dellatorre (Dan) of Bethesda, Md.; Paul O’Donnell (Robin) of Montgomery Village, Md.; Mark O’Donnell of Chestnut Hill, Mass.; and Matthew O’Donnell (Julie) of Oak Hill, Va. Her son, Rev. Stephen J. O’Donnell, died in 2007 in an automobile accident, while serving as a Catholic priest in the Lismore Diocese in Australia.  Her husband of 66 years, John Joseph O’Donnell, Jr., died in 2017. There are also 13 surviving grandchildren and three great granddaughters in her family.

A funeral Mass will be offered at 12 noon on Monday, April 22, at Our Lady of Grace Church, 15661 Norbeck Blvd., Silver Spring, MD 20906, with a viewing in the church at 11:00 a.m. Interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Birthright of Montgomery County, 2915-F Olney Sandy Spring Road Olney, Maryland 20832 or Catholic Charities of Washington, D.C.

Please Click Here to View and Sign Online Guestbook