Bertha S. Donnelley

ATHOL - Bertha S. (Wright) Donnelley, 84, of 63 Harvard Avenue, Athol and formerly of Springfield, died Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at her niece's home after a lengthy illness. She was born in Athol on December 31, 1925, the daughter of Henry L. and Evelyn M. (Wade) Wright. Bertha was raised and educated in Athol. She attended Sanders Street School and graduated from Athol High School with the class of 1946. While in Athol, she worked for the former N.D. Cass Toy Company. Upon her graduation, Bertha married her soul mate, Robert O. Donnelley, and moved to Springfield. Many years ago, she worked for Carter's Undergarment Shop, Milton Bradley, and the former U. S. Envelope Company all of Springfield. More recently, Bertha was employed as a warehouse clothing-handler for the former Steiger's in Springfield until her retirement in 1995. Bertha was a former member of the Women's Auxiliary of the Chicopee Falls United Methodist Church. She was a very loving woman who enjoyed cooking meals for her family and gave presents even between holidays. Bertha loved shopping, browsing tag sales on Sundays, and having meals with her family. She enjoyed traveling and had a memorable trip to Ireland with her husband and recent vacations to Maine with her niece, Kelly. Bertha was a very hard worker all of her life. She was a devoted wife and beloved aunt to many nieces and nephews. She leaves a sister in-law, Elizabeth Wright of Athol; several nieces and nephews including Kelly Richardson-Wright and her wife, Kena Richardson, and two step-daughters, Monica and Alisha Stanley, all with whom she resided. She was predeceased by her husband of fifty-four years, Robert O. Donnelley, on January 31, 2001; also by three brothers, Anton A. Wright, Charles H. Wright, John E. Wright; by a brother in-law, Donald "Red" Lewis; by one sister, Katherine W. Lewis; and by two sisters-in-law, Marjorie Wright and Carolyn M. Wright. Funeral services will be held Friday, July 16, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. in the Fiske Funeral Home, 1356 Main Street, Athol. Burial in Silver Lake Cemetery will be at a later date. A calling hour will be held at the funeral home on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. $(document).ready(function(){ });