Estelle MacDonald

Estelle H. (Rogers) MacDonald, 101, of 55 Elmlawn Road, Braintree, MA, passed away at her home, Monday, March 30, 2020.

Born in 1919 in Tenafly, NJ, to A. Raymond Rogers and Harriet (Eaton) Rogers, (deceased), of Waterville, ME. She is pre-deceased by  siblings Martha Beach, and brother Raymond Rogers, Jr. She is survived by her brother Manley Rogers.

Estelle graduated from Colby College with the class of ’39. She worked in her father’s law office, and subsequently moved to New York City to obtain additional professional training. During her time in NYC she met, and later married, Roy S. MacDonald at Riverside Church, Manhattan, NYC, in 1942.

At the end of WWII, Roy returned from service in the Army, living in Boston through 1946. In 1947, with two children in tow, they bought a home and settled in Braintree, MA, raising nine children.

Estelled is pre-deceased by her husband, Roy. She is survived by her daughter Prudence and her husband John Shorton; her son Michael and his wife Susan. She is pre-deceased by her son Geoffrey and survived by his wife Jane. She is survived by son Timothy; pre-deceased by son Laurence; survived by her sons Raymond; Douglas and his wife Maria; Anthony and his wife Karen; and her son John.

Estelle was a dedicated member of First Congregational Church, a Deaconess, member of the Sodalitas Group, and served as its Publicity Secretary for a time. She was a member of the Adventures in Reading Group; the Poetry Writing Group; and wrote a collection of poems, “Christmas Memories” drawn from those exercises. She developed many friends at church and was a devoted congregant. Read widely, she had a brilliant mind with a great memory, was a living encyclopedia. She enjoyed playing hymns on her piano, was a kind and sensitive soul; very accepting, loved children, had a sharp sense of humor and was a great conversationalist.

Estelle will be lovingly remembered for all of the affection she showed to her family and friends.

In addition to her children, she is survived by 18 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren, and an impressive array of relations throughout the country.

A private family service is being planned. The family will have a celebration of Estelle’s life to be announced at a future date.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Estelle MacDonald to Covid-19 support groups, or to the First Congregational Church, 12 Elm St., Braintree, MA 02184. The family would like to extend special thanks to the many caring home health aides, visiting nurses, Elder Services and hospice staff.

Photo galleries of Estelle: https://www.ray-macdonald.com/Family/Mom-Galleries/n-pJFqsz

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