Winifred I. (Daniels) Engel

Winifred I. Engel Athol – Winifred Isabel (Daniels) Engel, 89, of 188 Highland Avenue, died Sunday, August 14, 2011 at the Quabbin Valley Healthcare.      Winifred was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, January 15, 1922, the daughter of Luther Wells and Mabel (Gale) Daniels.  She grew up in Springfield, MA, New York City and Wendell, MA graduating from Orange High School in 1939.  She then attended Springfield Academy of Beauty Culture and after graduating she operated the Peacock Beauty Solon in Springfield.  On August 16, 1941 Winifred married Donald G. Engel of Athol were they have resided since 1941.  Following retirement they wintered in Dade City, Florida for more than 10 years.       Winifred was a member of the Athol Woman’s Club, the Athol Historical Society, Sportsman’s Pond Association and the First Church of Christ Scientist Church in Athol.  In years past she was very active in the community, working with the Cub Scouts, Campfire Girls, and was the first woman on the Board of directors of the Athol Little League, also starting the Snack Shack at the Little League field.  Winifred was very active in the PTA, and was a past president and was a precinct representative for the town.  Winifred loved to bake, baking for not only her family but every bake sale held in town.  Winifred especially enjoyed spending time with her family and in later years she and her husband traveled from coast to coast visiting her Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Winifred worked at Simplex in Gardner, the Athol Credit Union and for many years worked behind the scenes with her husband at Engel Plumbing and Heating. Recently Winifred and Donald sold the plumbing shop site to the Town of Athol for the Library expansion. Winifred at that time said “A library is as important as a church, because it is where people can educate themselves.” During her recent illness Winifred was cared for by family and close friends Charles and Judy Wirth of South Athol.       She leaves her husband of 70 years, Donald G. Engel; a daughter Karen D. Sykes and her husband Ronald of West Chester, PA; two sons, Mark D. Engel and his wife Sandra of Campbell, CA and Paul D. Engel and his wife Deborah of Amherst, MA; six grandchildren, Dr. Matthew McKinzie and his wife Esther, Jason Engel and his wife Jill, Dana McKinnon and her husband David, Dr Cynthia McKinzie , Dean Engel and his wife Tina and Gregory Engel; seven great grandchildren, Marshall, Noah,  Branden, Madison, Tyler, Dean Donald and, Sarah Winifred .  She was predeceased by a daughter, Renee Lynn Bowen in 2003 and a sister Barbara Miller.       Funeral Services will be held Friday, August 19, 2011at 1:00 p.m. at  Higgins-O’Connor Funeral Home, 146 Main Street, Athol with the Rev. Mark D. Bariloni, pastor of the Athol-Orange Baptist Church, officiating.   There will be a calling hour from noon until the time of service.    The family suggests contributions in Winifred’s name be made to: Salvation Army-Athol Corps, 107 Ridge Ave., Athol, MA. Private burial will be held at Silver Lake Cemetery at the convenience of the family.  For further information or to share a memory with the family go to:  www.higginsoconnorfuneralhome.com. $(document).ready(function(){ });