Westfield – Edward James McDonald, 59, passed away Saturday at Baystate Medical Center after a courageous battle against cancer. Prior to the only day in the hospital, Ed enjoyed his apartment while undergoing hospice care, his cousin Karen as major caregiver. Ed was born January 16, 1957 in Oakland, Michigan to Edward and Louise (Thistle) McDonald. He proudly served his country in the United States Army as a Medic and later attended nursing school and became an RN. He worked for many years as a psychiatric and hospice nurse – a career which he loved. He was an avid reader, had a great sense of humor, and thoroughly enjoyed living on his boat in Everett, WA. Ed is survived by his mother Louise McDonald of Hollywood, FL, his children James E. McDonald of Milwaukee, (his Mother – Lori Mitchell of VT, Ed’s former wife and beloved friend); and his daughter Carolena V. Quiroga and husband Frank Pizzo of CA (her Mother, Theresa Quiroga of AZ). Also survived by siblings Jane O’Connor and husband Mike of Hollywood, Fl, Eileen Roff and husband Howard of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and Barbara McDonald of Hollywood, FL. He will be deeply missed by his cousins Karen S. Clickstein and her husband Robert and Catherine Madrid and her husband Martin, all of Westfield; his aunts, (the late Dorothy R. Thistle, formerly of Malden, MA); and Jean Finnemore of Hampton, NH, his uncle Edward Thistle of Middleton, MA. He leaves his dear, lifelong friends Paul Bernis of Cooper City, Fl and Larry Sellers of Everett, WA, and many other extended family members. He was predeceased by his father Edward H. McDonald.
A service with burial and military honors will be held at the Massachusetts Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, on Friday at 1PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Ed’s memory to the American Cancer Society, Central New England Region – Holyoke, MA, 59 Bobala Rd. Holyoke, Massachusetts 01040. Westfield Funeral Home and Cremation, 4 Princeton Street, Westfield, MA 01085 has been entrusted with these arrangements. Please visit www.westfieldfuneralhome.com for Ed’s Memorial Page.
Westfield – Edward James McDonald, 59, passed away Saturday at Baystate Medical Center after a courageous battle against cancer. Prior to the only day in the hospital, Ed enjoyed his apartment while undergoing hospice care, his cousin Karen as major caregiver. Ed was born January 16, 1957 in Oakland, Michigan to Edward and Louise (Thistle) McDonald. He proudly served his country in the United States Army as a Medic and later attended nursing school and became an RN. He worked for many years as a psychiatric and hospice nurse – a career which he loved. He was an avid reader, had a great sense of humor, and thoroughly enjoyed living on his boat in Everett, WA. Ed is survived by his mother Louise McDonald of Hollywood, FL, his children James E. McDonald of Milwaukee, (his Mother – Lori Mitchell of VT, Ed’s former wife and beloved friend); and his daughter Carolena V. Quiroga and husband Frank Pizzo of CA (her Mother, Theresa Quiroga of AZ). Also survived by siblings Jane O’Connor and husband Mike of Hollywood, Fl, Eileen Roff and husband Howard of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and Barbara McDonald of Hollywood, FL. He will be deeply missed by his cousins Karen S. Clickstein and her husband Robert and Catherine Madrid and her husband Martin, all of Westfield; his aunts, (the late Dorothy R. Thistle, formerly of Malden, MA); and Jean Finnemore of Hampton, NH, his uncle Edward Thistle of Middleton, MA. He leaves his dear, lifelong friends Paul Bernis of Cooper City, Fl and Larry Sellers of Everett, WA, and many other extended family members. He was predeceased by his father Edward H. McDonald.
