Obituary
Donnelly, Thelma (neé McGuire), age 92, born April 12, 1929 died peacefully at her home on Saturday, June 26, 2021. She was the only surviving daughter of Hugh McGuire and Roselena Sullivan and sibling of ten (10) brothers and two (2) sisters; her youngest brother Paul and the late Clarence, Basil, Bert, Billie, Allan, Bruce, Mary, Dorothy, Frank, Ben, and Greg McGuire. Billie, Mary and Dorothy died in childhood, so she grew up as the only sister to nine brothers in Schomberg Ontario on the family dairy farm. A graduate of St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto 1950, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology, she studied under Marshall McLuhan and Father Kelly.
On October 3rd, 1950 she married the love of her life, the late James Joseph Donnelly, a University of Toronto Forestry Engineer. They raised 10 children in Peterborough Ontario as entrepreneurs of Call-a-Cab Limited, JJ Donnelly Motors and Donnelly Shuttle Transit Inc. Thelma is the beloved Mother of Jim Donnelly (Dawn Erskine), Julie Sullivan (Pat), Mike Donnelly (Teresa), Peggy Sullivan (Joe), Dan Donnelly (Patti), Patsy Young (Frank), Peter Donnelly (Christy), Ellen Cowie (Brian), Tom Donnelly (D-Y Lin), Rose Donnelly (Brian Mulligan). She is survived by her beloved youngest brother Paul McGuire and sisters-in-law Patricia, Peggy and Susan McGuire. She is also the beloved sister-in-law of Sheila McConkey and Irene Rowan and the late Joan McGillis and Tim Donnelly. Mom leaves a beautiful legacy of many grandchildren and many many great-grandchildren. Mom always had an open door policy and welcomed lots of nieces and nephews and our countless friends as cherished family. Known as “Mickey” to many, she wrote for the Catholic Register newspaper, served on the local and Provincial CPTA (Catholic parent teachers’ association) and also served as the Separate School Trustee representative on the Public School board for many years. Visitation at Highland Park Funeral Centre, 2510 Bensfort Road on Thursday, July 1st from 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 9pm. To secure a designated time to pay your respects, please book online at www.highlandparkfuneralcentre.com and click the link on Mickey’s Tribute page or call the funeral home at 705-745-6984. Masks and social distance protocols will be in place. Funeral Mass at St Peter’s Cathedral on Friday, July 2nd at 10:30 am. Father Tom Lynch officiating. Interment at St Peter’s Cemetery. In memory of Mickey, donations to St Peter’s Cathedral Perpetual Fund (www.cathedralperpetualfund.ca), Cystic Fibrosis, St Elizabeth Health Care and Hospice Peterborough or Charity of your choice. Online condolences may be expressed at www.highlandparkfuneralcentre.com
Please, no lilies or eucalyptus due to allergies. Thank you.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Thelma ‘Mickey’ McGuire Donnelly April 12 1929 June 26 2021 (age 92)..
Death notice for the town of: Peterborough, Province: Ontario