Irene ‘Toots’ O’Donnell Sughrue died peacefully Friday, March 21, 2014 at Christ the King Manor, Dubois, a few days shy of her 99th birthday.
She was born April 15, 1915 at the family homestead on Clark Street, Clearfield. She was the daughter of the late Thomas and Bridget (Loftus) O’Donnell.
On April 14, 1941 at the St. Francis of Assisi Church, Clearfield, she married Francis R. (Shug) Sughrue, who preceded her in death on Oct. 2, 1995. Her son, Thomas, also preceded her in death on Nov. 12, 1964.
She’s survived by her daughter, Rita Ann Kimmel and her husband, Nathan and their child, Dana (John) Ottey and grandson, Jack Hohenwarter; her son, John Sughrue and his wife, Patte McDermitt and their children, Marybeth (Mark) Contreras, Andy (Denise), Jennifer (Steve) Rohrer, Michael (Tejal) and Douglas (Alicia) and their grandchildren, Michael Contreras, Connor, Caitlin, Maggie, Ryan and Isabella Sughrue, Jeffrey (Kathryn) Elmore, Jake, Josh, Nathan and Shannon Rohrer and great-granddaughter, Abbey Kate Elmore. She’s also survived by a beloved sister-in-law, Margaret Litz O’Donnell and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and all siblings and spouses, Mary (Frank) Kane, Genevieve (Howdy) Mann, Rita (Fred) Leavy, Catherine (Reuben) McDonald, Geraldine (Louie) Danneker, Terrence “Buck” (Flo Conklin) and Thomas.
During her life, she appreciated the closeness of her family, the wonderful years at the St. Francis School and her many friends.
In response to an apparent epidemic of Muscular Dystrophy in the 1950’s, she and other individuals, including the Clearfield Fire Department members, founded a local chapter of MDA to raise money for research. She served as president and always fondly remembered the various firemen with whom she worked. The local chapter eventually merged into the State MDA. She was active in the St. Francis Church, its Rosary & Altar Society and the Coterie Club.
A Mass of Christian burial will be said at 11 a.m. Saturday at the St. Francis Catholic Church, Clearfield, with Msgr. H. Desmond McGee Jr. as celebrant. Following the mass, burial will be beside Shug and Tom in the family plot at Calvary Cemetery.
Friends will be received from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Kevin A. Beardsley Funeral Home, Clearfield.
At the funeral home on Friday, a Christian Vigil service will be held at 3:45 p.m. and the Rosary will be recited at 7:45 p.m.
The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Muscular Dystrophy Association, 3300 E. Sunrise Dr., Tucson, AZ 85718 or to the St. Francis Educational Endowment Fund, 212 S. Front St., Clearfield.
To sign the online guestbook, go to www.beardsleyfuneralhome.com.