M. Celine (Donoghue) Harrity

M. Celine (Donoghue) Harrity of Worcester, died on October 28, 2023, after a brief period of declining health and surrounded by her loving family. Celine’s beloved husband, Peter J. Harrity Jr. predeceased her on January 27, 2017.

Celine was born in 1928 in Worcester, MA, the eldest of five children born to Cornelius S. and Florence E. (Donohue) Donoghue. She graduated from St. Peter High School in 1946, attended Our Lady of the Elms College for one year, and graduated from Becker Business School Evening Division in 1950. She was employed by Paul Revere Life Insurance Company from 1948 to 1954.

Celine and Peter married in 1953, and in 1957 they moved to Fairfield, CT, where Peter had taken a position as a high school English teacher. As her children got older, Celine became an active volunteer in the schools and with other civic organizations. Always interested in politics, Celine joined the Fairfield Democratic Town Committee and was elected to two terms on the Representative Town Meeting. She also served on the Flood and Erosion Commission, the Human Service Commission, and as the Democratic Deputy Voter Registrar from 1983 to 1995. When her younger children entered college, Celine returned to work full time as an office manager. In her retirement, she enjoyed working part time at the Fairfield Public Library.

Celine was an adventurous person who loved to travel. Her children have fond memories of the seven weeks spent traveling cross country in a station wagon, pulling a tent trailer, during the summer of 1971. Celine and Peter visited all 50 states, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, Scotland, Switzerland, Iceland, Canada, and Spain.

In 2007, Celine and Peter returned to live in Worcester to be closer to family.

Celine was an inspiration to all who knew her for her lifelong curiosity and her openness to and acceptance of new people and ideas. She delighted in asking questions and loved keeping up with the interests and experiences of her grandchildren.

Celine is survived by her sister Florence and her husband Dr. Anthony Chatowsky of Rhode Island, and her brother Cornelius and his wife Sheila Donoghue of Virginia. She will be sorely missed by her five children and their spouses: Marie Harrity and husband Gary Smith of Parker, CO; Peter Harrity and his wife Karen Felker Harrity of Scott, NY; Mary Beth Harrity and her husband John Ferrarone of Worcester; Barbara Harrity and her husband Edward Lindsey of Orono, ME; and Joseph Harrity and his wife Becky Smith Harrity of Troutdale, OR. She was adored by her grandchildren: Seamus, Devin, Kelsey (Daniele), Eamon (Katherine), Emmett, Chloe (Austin), Siobhan, Evan, Rowan, Caoimhe, and Brighid. She also leaves behind five great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was predeceased by her sisters Joan Donoghue and Nancy Murray and her husband Charles Murray, and her in-laws Raymond and Rosemary Harrity, Edward and Beverly Harrity, James and Anne Harrity, Martin Harrity, and Anne Scott Harrity.

Her calling hour will be held at Blessed Sacrament Church, 555 Pleasant Street on Friday, November 3rd from 9:30 am to 10:30 am followed by her funeral Mass at 11:00 am. Burial will follow at St. John's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to https://www.jhccenter.org/ or https://abbyshouse.org/.

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