In Memory of
Eleanor M.
Gray (Donahue)
Gray (Donahue)
1912 - 2016
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Obituary for Eleanor M. Gray (Donahue)
Remembering Mum
Eleanor Donahue Gray
10/25/1912 - 05/04/2016
Eleanor was born in Boston Massachusetts to Ellen (O’Neil) and Hugh Donahue, the fourth of what would become ten siblings. In a sense she lived a charmed life, although her early years were spent in humble surroundings where her Mother had to work magic to help support the large family. The stories she told of growing up with 10 children in the home, in the early 1900s were storybook. She was an eyewitness to history in the making - first seeing the lamplighter come down the street at nightfall, then experiencing the first automobiles and the first airplanes coming and going from nearby Logan Airport! In East Boston, she attended Catholic schools and was soon tapped by the sisters to become a nun. This was fine with Eleanor until she met the handsome Henry Gray who swept her off her feet and away from the convent!
They married during the great depression on September 5th, 1933. Alice Woodall, Henry’s sister, made her a beautiful lace gown and provided a lovely, small wedding, but there was no extra money for wedding pictures. Always sorry for this omission, Alice noticed a Ladies Home Journal cover photograph that she thought very much resembled Eleanor, and she adorned this picture with pieces of lace from the wedding dress, and flowers and tulle from the head piece, for the family to have as a substitute for a wedding portrait. Alice was a talented artist and for years, this likeness hung in the Gray home for all to admire and enjoy!
Within two years, baby Eleanor Gene arrived and 20 months later, a sister Valerie Rita. When the children approached school age, Henry courageously moved his growing family to the country, much to the horror of Eleanor’s mother and 9 siblings. He did not want to raise his children in the city, and they found a home in West Chelmsford, MA with three acres of land, more to the liking of Henry who spent most of his formative years in Maine. There they flourished. At age 40+, Eleanor finally got a driver’s license and went to work for the Lowell General Hospital and later as the first female supervisor at the Lowell Gas Company to help finance college tuitions and eventual weddings for their girls. She worked there for 28 years.
In 1973, after 32 years at 52 School Street, Eleanor and Henry moved to Chelmsford Center to live with Valerie, Charlie, Susan and young Charlie. In 1980, Henry unexpectedly passed away. Eleanor lived on with Valerie to enjoy and experience first hand the Cashin’s active and busy family life. When not ‘on the go’ with family travels, El loved to knit and sew, creating beautiful works of art with needle and thread. She loved the opera and listened faithfully to the radio every Saturday afternoon to whatever opera was being sung on “Live from the Met” in NYC. She amazed us all by playing tunes on the piano from memory right up to the end.
Eleanor was predeceased by her husband, Henry Gray; son-in-law Charles Cashin Jr.; four brothers, Buddy, John, Walter and Dan Donahue; four of her sisters, Anna Mc Eleney, Rita Kraus, Margaret McCallum and Dorothy Tozza. One sister, Grace Gawlinski survives at 94.
Eleanor is survived by her two daughters, Valerie Cashin and Ellie Gatenby (Art); five grandchildren, Susan Cashin Pollock (Jack); Jennifer Gatenby Blessman (Deren), Charles Cashin (Kathy), Jill Gatenby Levi (Hank), and David Gatenby (Alissa); 13 great grandchildren, and one great, great granddaughter with another due in October! She has travelled widely to be with family members - to Alaska, California, Utah, Arizona, Virginia, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Ireland. Whenever there was an event to be celebrated - a wedding, new baby, graduation, change of command, Eleanor was ready to hop into the car or onto an airplane. Her last trip at age 103 was in February to Florida with Valerie to visit Art and Ellie for two weeks! She lived life to its fullest to the very last moment!
Now this lovely, kind and spirited lady belongs to the Ages, and she will live on forever in the hearts and memories of all who loved her during her long and blessed life.
Burial was held privately and a celebration of her life will be held at a later time. She celebrated her 100th birthday in grand fashion with all her family and friends and that is how she wants to be remembered. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to the VNA of Middlesex-East, 607 North Ave., Suite 17, Wakefield, MA 01880, the Salvation Army, or the charity of your choice.
Eleanor Donahue Gray
10/25/1912 - 05/04/2016
Eleanor was born in Boston Massachusetts to Ellen (O’Neil) and Hugh Donahue, the fourth of what would become ten siblings. In a sense she lived a charmed life, although her early years were spent in humble surroundings where her Mother had to work magic to help support the large family. The stories she told of growing up with 10 children in the home, in the early 1900s were storybook. She was an eyewitness to history in the making - first seeing the lamplighter come down the street at nightfall, then experiencing the first automobiles and the first airplanes coming and going from nearby Logan Airport! In East Boston, she attended Catholic schools and was soon tapped by the sisters to become a nun. This was fine with Eleanor until she met the handsome Henry Gray who swept her off her feet and away from the convent!
They married during the great depression on September 5th, 1933. Alice Woodall, Henry’s sister, made her a beautiful lace gown and provided a lovely, small wedding, but there was no extra money for wedding pictures. Always sorry for this omission, Alice noticed a Ladies Home Journal cover photograph that she thought very much resembled Eleanor, and she adorned this picture with pieces of lace from the wedding dress, and flowers and tulle from the head piece, for the family to have as a substitute for a wedding portrait. Alice was a talented artist and for years, this likeness hung in the Gray home for all to admire and enjoy!
Within two years, baby Eleanor Gene arrived and 20 months later, a sister Valerie Rita. When the children approached school age, Henry courageously moved his growing family to the country, much to the horror of Eleanor’s mother and 9 siblings. He did not want to raise his children in the city, and they found a home in West Chelmsford, MA with three acres of land, more to the liking of Henry who spent most of his formative years in Maine. There they flourished. At age 40+, Eleanor finally got a driver’s license and went to work for the Lowell General Hospital and later as the first female supervisor at the Lowell Gas Company to help finance college tuitions and eventual weddings for their girls. She worked there for 28 years.
In 1973, after 32 years at 52 School Street, Eleanor and Henry moved to Chelmsford Center to live with Valerie, Charlie, Susan and young Charlie. In 1980, Henry unexpectedly passed away. Eleanor lived on with Valerie to enjoy and experience first hand the Cashin’s active and busy family life. When not ‘on the go’ with family travels, El loved to knit and sew, creating beautiful works of art with needle and thread. She loved the opera and listened faithfully to the radio every Saturday afternoon to whatever opera was being sung on “Live from the Met” in NYC. She amazed us all by playing tunes on the piano from memory right up to the end.
Eleanor was predeceased by her husband, Henry Gray; son-in-law Charles Cashin Jr.; four brothers, Buddy, John, Walter and Dan Donahue; four of her sisters, Anna Mc Eleney, Rita Kraus, Margaret McCallum and Dorothy Tozza. One sister, Grace Gawlinski survives at 94.
Eleanor is survived by her two daughters, Valerie Cashin and Ellie Gatenby (Art); five grandchildren, Susan Cashin Pollock (Jack); Jennifer Gatenby Blessman (Deren), Charles Cashin (Kathy), Jill Gatenby Levi (Hank), and David Gatenby (Alissa); 13 great grandchildren, and one great, great granddaughter with another due in October! She has travelled widely to be with family members - to Alaska, California, Utah, Arizona, Virginia, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Ireland. Whenever there was an event to be celebrated - a wedding, new baby, graduation, change of command, Eleanor was ready to hop into the car or onto an airplane. Her last trip at age 103 was in February to Florida with Valerie to visit Art and Ellie for two weeks! She lived life to its fullest to the very last moment!
Now this lovely, kind and spirited lady belongs to the Ages, and she will live on forever in the hearts and memories of all who loved her during her long and blessed life.
Burial was held privately and a celebration of her life will be held at a later time. She celebrated her 100th birthday in grand fashion with all her family and friends and that is how she wants to be remembered. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to the VNA of Middlesex-East, 607 North Ave., Suite 17, Wakefield, MA 01880, the Salvation Army, or the charity of your choice.