1951
James
2016
James E. Donaldson
January 21, 1951 — April 29, 2016
Biography
Rutland- James E. Donaldson, 65, a lifelong resident of Rutland, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 29, 2016 surrounded by his loving family after a courageous 2 ½ year battle with cancer. Born in Holden, Jim was the son of the late Robert and Helen (Wales) Donaldson. He leaves the love of his life, Darlene M. (Daoust) Donaldson; daughters, Keri Taylor and her husband, Greg of Holden and Kathleen Fink and her husband, Jonathan of Leominster; four grandchildren, Ryan and Matthew Taylor of Holden and Emily and Timothy Fink of Leominster; a brother Robert W. Donaldson and his wife, Christine of Amarillo Texas; a sister-in-law, Margaret Donaldson of Lowell, and several nieces and nephews. Jim is predeceased by his brother, David A. Donaldson. He also leaves behind his beloved yellow lab, Kenzie.
Jim attended Rutland schools and Worcester Boys Trade School. He was active in the Rutland Fire Brigade. He worked for 38 years with the U.S. Postal Service as a rural carrier serving both Rutland and Jefferson, making many canine friends along the way. Upon his retirement he went to work for SCM Elderbus, Inc. where he had the pleasure of meeting and driving many wonderful people. Jim had a smile that would light up a room. Although a very sweet and humble man, he had an engaging sense of humor which brightened all of our lives, even during some of the darker days of his illness. Family was paramount to Jim and no one meant more to him than his wife, daughters and grandchildren. Jim and Darlene had a very rare bond, and an unconditional love beginning with a friendship in third grade that later blossomed into an amazing love story spanning 43 years of marriage.
Jim’s many interests included biking, hiking, gardening, country music, fishing, reading and woodworking. These interests allowed him to design and build his beautiful home and gardens of which he was so proud. He thoroughly enjoyed entertaining, with frequent family gatherings, holiday celebrations and summer pool parties and barbecues. One of his favorite pastimes was traveling, especially to Stowe, Vermont with Darlene. Jim was a member of St. Patrick’s Church in Rutland.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Jim’s family from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 2 at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden. A funeral Mass of Christian Burial and Jim’s burial in Rural Cemetery, Rutland will both be private at the request of the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jim’s memory to The Doug Flutie Foundation for Autism, P.O. Box 2157, Framingham, MA 01703 or SweatPea FOR Animals, 1090 Pleasant St., Paxton, MA 01612.
Visitation
Monday
May 2, 2016
,
4:00 p.m.
- 7:00 p.m.
at
Miles Funeral Home
Click for Map and Directions
Funeral Mass Celebration
at
St. Patrick's Church
Click for Map and Directions
Private Committal Service
at
Rural Cemetery
Click for Map and Directions
Rutland- James E. Donaldson, 65, a lifelong resident of Rutland, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 29, 2016 surrounded by his loving family after a courageous 2 ½ year battle with cancer. Born in Holden, Jim was the son of the late Robert and Helen (Wales) Donaldson. He leaves the love of his life, Darlene M. (Daoust) Donaldson; daughters, Keri Taylor and her husband, Greg of Holden and Kathleen Fink and her husband, Jonathan of Leominster; four grandchildren, Ryan and Matthew Taylor of Holden and Emily and Timothy Fink of Leominster; a brother Robert W. Donaldson and his wife, Christine of Amarillo Texas; a sister-in-law, Margaret Donaldson of Lowell, and several nieces and nephews. Jim is predeceased by his brother, David A. Donaldson. He also leaves behind his beloved yellow lab, Kenzie.
Jim attended Rutland schools and Worcester Boys Trade School. He was active in the Rutland Fire Brigade. He worked for 38 years with the U.S. Postal Service as a rural carrier serving both Rutland and Jefferson, making many canine friends along the way. Upon his retirement he went to work for SCM Elderbus, Inc. where he had the pleasure of meeting and driving many wonderful people. Jim had a smile that would light up a room. Although a very sweet and humble man, he had an engaging sense of humor which brightened all of our lives, even during some of the darker days of his illness. Family was paramount to Jim and no one meant more to him than his wife, daughters and grandchildren. Jim and Darlene had a very rare bond, and an unconditional love beginning with a friendship in third grade that later blossomed into an amazing love story spanning 43 years of marriage.
Jim’s many interests included biking, hiking, gardening, country music, fishing, reading and woodworking. These interests allowed him to design and build his beautiful home and gardens of which he was so proud. He thoroughly enjoyed entertaining, with frequent family gatherings, holiday celebrations and summer pool parties and barbecues. One of his favorite pastimes was traveling, especially to Stowe, Vermont with Darlene. Jim was a member of St. Patrick’s Church in Rutland.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Jim’s family from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 2 at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden. A funeral Mass of Christian Burial and Jim’s burial in Rural Cemetery, Rutland will both be private at the request of the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jim’s memory to The Doug Flutie Foundation for Autism, P.O. Box 2157, Framingham, MA 01703 or SweatPea FOR Animals, 1090 Pleasant St., Paxton, MA 01612.
Visitation
Monday
May 2, 2016
,
4:00 p.m.
- 7:00 p.m.
at
Miles Funeral Home
Click for Map and Directions
Funeral Mass Celebration
at
St. Patrick's Church
Click for Map and Directions
Private Committal Service
at
Rural Cemetery
Click for Map and Directions
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James E. Donaldson, please visit our flower store.
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