An accomplished artist
MELROSE — Mildred Ann (O’Neil) Macdonald, age 98 of Melrose passed away on October 9 peacefully at home surrounded by her family.
Born November 1, 1925, Mildred was the oldest of three daughters of Ralph and Mildred O’Neil. Mildred was born in Cambridge and raised in Arlington where she graduated from high school in 1943. After high school Mildred and her two sisters Marie and Jean ran the very well-known O’Neil Sisters Dance studio of Arlington where they taught tap, ballet, acrobatics and ballroom dancing for many years. Mildred was also an accomplished artist. She taught and lectured specifically in decorative painting and reverse glass painting. She was a member of the National Historical Society of Early American Decoration (NHSEAD) and also an active member of the Melrose Arts & Crafts Society. Mildred had many fond memories of her travels throughout the US, Europe and Bermuda.
In 1948 Mildred married the late Theodore E. Macdonald. In 1960 they moved to Melrose where they raised seven children. For over fifty years they spent summers at their cottage on Hickory Hills Lake in Lunenburg. She is survived by and the loving mother of Linda Tarlach and husband John of Groton; Nancy DeMinico and husband the late Alfred DeMinico of Melrose; Brian Macdonald and wife Donna of Wakefield; Susan Rogato and husband Paul of Palm Beach Shores, FL; Trisha Keane and husband Dick of Melrose; Lisa Valente and husband John of Melrose; and Scott Macdonald and wife Anne Marie of Jamaica Plain. She was also the cherished grandmother of sixteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
She will be remembered by her family and friends as a loving, generous, intelligent, wise and beautiful woman who brought joy to our lives. She always had a positive attitude and spirit for life, always looking at the silver lining in any situation. Special thanks to Winchester In Home Care and Beth Israel Lahey Health At Home for their compassionate and loving care for Mildred.
Visiting hours will be held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St., Melrose on Friday, October 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. Procession from the Gately Funeral Home on Saturday, October 19 at 9 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Mary’s Church, 4 Herbert St., Melrose at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends respectfully invited to attend. Interment in Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Saint Mary’s Church or St. Jude Children’s Hospital in memory of Mildred. Please visit stmarysmelrose.org or stjude.org for donations. To sign online condolence, visit gatelyfh.com.
