Death date: Mar 17, 2020
Mary Frances Collins (Caldwell) Donohoe died on March 17, 2020 as a result of multiple myeloma. She was born, raised and educated in Worcester, MA. After completing her B.A. degree at Mt. St. Mary College in Hookset, NH, she retur Read Obituary
I met Mary Fran 20 years ago when she taught my daughter. She was wonderful. In succeeding years, whenever I would run into Mary Fran in Haile Plantation, she would ask about my daughter by name. This was even into my daughter's adulthood. What a caring, thoughtful lady. She was definitely in the right profession. May God bless her family.
Marilyn Hall, Gainesville
Hello Jay and the entire Donohoe family. I was not aware of the memorial service for Mary Fran until Just now as I was reading the Sun at 12:45. I hope you know that she was one of my dearest friends and I would have been in attendance.
Please know that I will remember the many great times that we spent together and cherish those reflections forever.
In deepest sympathy,
Leanetta McNealy
Mary Fran and I shared a friendship for many years and I miss her intelligence and her outrageous sense of humor very much. We shared a love of literature and of teaching, and I still catch myself thinking that something I've heard would make her laugh. God rest you, Mary Fran.
Chris Gibbs
I am so sorry to see that Mary Fran has died. We knew her well in the '70s when we were all "single again." How much fun we had floating down the Ichetucknee and having parties. One after another we married again, and Jay found her. I am so sorry to hear that he has lost her. Virginia (Ginny McKann) Seacrist
Jay, I am so sorry to hear about Mary Frances’ passing. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Pete and Pat Firmat
My sincere condolences to the family. I knew MaryFran back in the 1960s when we lived in the compound at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Our husbands worked extremely long hours so we wives and children spent time on the playground and pool in the summer. She welcomed me to Gainesville in 1970. I will always remember her great laugh and smile.
Linda Block
Mary Fran and I met in 1978 at Shell Elementary in Hawthorne. It was my first year of teaching, and her first year of being in the classroom in Florida. We shared a deep friendship that lasted over forty years. She was an amazing teacher, and I learned so much from working with her. I am left with wonderful memories of the fun that we shared through the years. I will forever miss her sense of humor, and that great laugh of hers. I loved her dearly, and although I miss her, I am so glad that she is no longer suffering.
To her beautiful family, please know how much she loved you. Jay, you were always referred to as 'the best husband in the world' in our conversations. You certainly showed that as you cared for her during her long struggle. She expressed to me more than once, that if the roles had been reversed, she hoped that she would have been able to care for you in the same way. She appreciated everything that you did for her.
Todd and Mary Jeanne, you made your mom so very proud! She was overwhelmed by your selflessness and the love that you showed her these past couple of months. You both brought her such joy and helped to ease her pain.
Louis, JT, and Audrey, she loved you all so very much! She was so very proud of each of you, and talked about you all of the time! May you carry beautiful memories of her throughout your lives.
I'm so very sorry for your loss.
I first met Mary Fran in the pool at Haile country club. I had just moved to Gainesville and as a retired teacher, we had a lot to talk about. I remember this gracious lady who had dedicated herself to the education of children, and the wonderful talks we had about being a teacher. I admire her courage and I hope the love and support she gave her family and friends will help all of you get through this difficult time. May her memory be a blessing.
Marcia Storch
