EDWARD J. O'DONNELL
d. July 5, 2007
EDWARD J. O'DONNELL
Edward J. O'Donnell, 80, of Comstock Parkway, Cranston, Rhode Island, passed away on Thursday, July 5, 2007 after a long bout with cancer. He was the husband of Shirley (Brown) O'Donnell and had been married for 53 years. He was the son of the late Howard and Isabel (Reynolds) O'Donnell.
Born in Providence, he graduated from LaSalle Academy, was a World War II veteran of the United States Coast Guard and entered Providence College in 1945. At the beginning of his junior year, his father died and he went into the family business, E. F. O'Donnell & Sons Company, Inc., of Providence, the commercial painting business started in 1900 by his grandfather. He was joined years later by his younger brother. He retired in 2001 after managing the firm for 52 years.
He was a member of the Board of Incorporators of Citizens Savings Bank. He served as a trustee of the Pension and Annuity Fund of The International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades, Local 195 and on the board of directors of Rhode Island Blue Cross Blue Shield and the former HMO Rhode Island. He was a former member of the Board of Trustees of the Providence Rotary Club, a director of the Rotary Charity Fund and a Paul Harris Fellow.
Mr. O'Donnell was a member of the Board of Governors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Providence and a member of its Finance Committee. He was a former director of the Frederick Tanner Foundation and a founding director of the Bishop Russell J. McVinney Foundation. He was a past president of the Providence Serra Club and a former trustee of St. Ann Church in Cranston. In 1989, he received the St. George Emblem for his 19 years of involvement with Catholic Boy Scouts of the Narragansett Council of Boy Scouts of America. He was a communicant of Holy Apostles Church in Cranston.
He was a former member of the Pt. Judith Country Club.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by four sons: Edward F. O'Donnell of Greenville; Robert E. O'Donnell of Cranston; Louis B. O'Donnell of Cranston; and, John T. O'Donnell of Harmony, and three grandchildren. He is also survived by four sisters: Elizabeth Kane of Narragansett; Anne McCarthy of North Kingstown; Isabel Rao of Providence; and, Kathleen Dykstra of Richmond.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, July 10th at 9:00 a.m. in Holy Apostles Church, 800 Pippin Orchard Road, Cranston, followed by interment in Highland Memorial Park Cemetery, Johnston. Visiting hours are respectfully omitted.
In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence, 134 Thurbers Avenue, Providence, RI 02905 or the Bishop McVinney Foundation, 485 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Providence, RI 02908.
Arrangements by Nardolillo Funeral Home.
Born in Providence, he graduated from LaSalle Academy, was a World War II veteran of the United States Coast Guard and entered Providence College in 1945. At the beginning of his junior year, his father died and he went into the family business, E. F. O'Donnell & Sons Company, Inc., of Providence, the commercial painting business started in 1900 by his grandfather. He was joined years later by his younger brother. He retired in 2001 after managing the firm for 52 years.
He was a member of the Board of Incorporators of Citizens Savings Bank. He served as a trustee of the Pension and Annuity Fund of The International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades, Local 195 and on the board of directors of Rhode Island Blue Cross Blue Shield and the former HMO Rhode Island. He was a former member of the Board of Trustees of the Providence Rotary Club, a director of the Rotary Charity Fund and a Paul Harris Fellow.
Mr. O'Donnell was a member of the Board of Governors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Providence and a member of its Finance Committee. He was a former director of the Frederick Tanner Foundation and a founding director of the Bishop Russell J. McVinney Foundation. He was a past president of the Providence Serra Club and a former trustee of St. Ann Church in Cranston. In 1989, he received the St. George Emblem for his 19 years of involvement with Catholic Boy Scouts of the Narragansett Council of Boy Scouts of America. He was a communicant of Holy Apostles Church in Cranston.
He was a former member of the Pt. Judith Country Club.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by four sons: Edward F. O'Donnell of Greenville; Robert E. O'Donnell of Cranston; Louis B. O'Donnell of Cranston; and, John T. O'Donnell of Harmony, and three grandchildren. He is also survived by four sisters: Elizabeth Kane of Narragansett; Anne McCarthy of North Kingstown; Isabel Rao of Providence; and, Kathleen Dykstra of Richmond.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, July 10th at 9:00 a.m. in Holy Apostles Church, 800 Pippin Orchard Road, Cranston, followed by interment in Highland Memorial Park Cemetery, Johnston. Visiting hours are respectfully omitted.
In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence, 134 Thurbers Avenue, Providence, RI 02905 or the Bishop McVinney Foundation, 485 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Providence, RI 02908.
Arrangements by Nardolillo Funeral Home.
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