Anne C. (Hayes) McDonald

Bethel, CT – Anne Carmel (Hayes) McDonald, age 86, passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 18, 2021. Anne was born and raised in Troy, NY and fiercely proud of it. In Troy, she graduated from Catholic High, then Nursing school and met the love of her life, James W McDonald at the Notty Pine Restaurant. Anne and Jim were married for 47 years before Jim’s passing in 2003. Their life together took them to Chicago, IL, Arlington, VA, Beechhurst, NY and Bethel, CT. Anne and Jim raised four children together. In her life, Anne displayed great perseverance. Her second child, Francis, was born with autism and her first born child, Katherine, was in a tragic car accident that left her mentally and physically handicapped. Anne devoted the rest of her life as a caregiver to her eldest children. Never did a week go by, that she wasn’t with them. Despite difficulties, Anne is most remembered for her sense of humor among her closest friends and how much fun she was to be around. Funny, smart and tough, she was definitely the life of the party. Later in life Anne started working at the Y daycare center in Bethel that she loved. Anne was a devout Catholic, member of the Red Hat Society, an avid reader, Jeopardy enthusiast and self-described “best female driver on 13th Avenue”. Anne made friends everywhere she lived and they were friends for life!

Anne is survived by her beloved children, Katherine McDonald of Bethel, CT, Francis McDonald of Norwich CT, Joseph (Rosemary) McDonald of Matawan, NJ and Brendan (Kate) McDonald of Denver, CO. Her sister Mary Kay (Steve) Sgambati of Mechanicville, NY, many nieces and nephews and her dear friends. In addition to her husband James, Anne is predeceased by her parents Joseph and Katherine Hayes, cousin and sister-in-law Patricia McDonald, brother-in-law Francis McDonald, sister-in-law Mary Keefe, brother-in-law Cornelius Keefe and nephew James M. McDonald.

A Mass of Christian burial in celebration of Anne’s life will be held at Sacred Heart Church, 310 Spring Avenue in Troy, on Monday, November 22nd at 10am. Interment will follow at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Ability Beyond, the amazing foundation that has so lovingly cared for her eldest daughter since her car accident.

Donate to www.abilitybeyond.org

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