Obituary for Eileen McDonell (Raymond)
Former township of Augusta elementary school principal and teacher, Eileen Mae McDonell (nee Raymond) passed away at the Cornwall Community Hospital on Saturday May 27, 2023 at the age of 94. Beloved wife of the late Donald Roy McDonell of Maitland, Mrs. McDonell is predeceased by her sister Isobel Fraser (nee Raymond) along with her brother Bernie Raymond and niece Carol Darling all of Apple Hill, as well as her nephew Keith Darling and niece Margaret (nee Wheeler) of St. Andrew’s West. Eileen leaves behind her brother-in-law Carman Fraser (late Isobel) and their family: Lorrie (Steve) of St. Andrew’s West and Blaine (Regina) of Oceanside California and their families, her sister-in-law June Raymond (Bernie) and their children Debra (Dan), Lee (Laurie), Dale and their families.
Eileen was born to Hugh and Helena Raymond (nee Thomas) of the 1st of Kenyon, Glengarry, on January 23rd 1929. At an early age, Eileen enlisted in the Cadets and made her way up through the ranks winning many accolades and honing her sharp shooting, being presented the Top Marksmanship Award.
Eileen married Donald Roy McDonell on July 30th, 1954 and the newlyweds moved to Maitland, Ontario. Although they loved their Leeds & Grenville community, a piece of their hearts remained in Glengarry and the first weekend of every August was reserved for the Glengarry Highland games. In a forty year span, Eileen and Don missed only one Glengarry Highland Games, because they were on vacation, as it turns out, visiting the castles and distilleries of Scotland itself.
Eileen began a career in education teaching in a one room schoolhouse, working her way up through the education system becoming a principal in 1967 where she was tasked with supervising both Algonquin Elementary and North Augusta Elementary. Eileen retired from education in 1984. Not one to stay idle, she found her next calling as a volunteer in the St. Vincent De Paul Hospital Site Auxiliary in Brockville, Ontario where she served for many years in various capacities, including that of President.
Although Eileen never had children of her own, she touched the lives of her many students and their families in a long and bountiful education career and was closely involved in the lives of her nieces, nephews and their families. She will be missed dearly and thought of fondly.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Apple Hill for both Eileen and her nephew Keith Darling on Thursday, July 13th, 2023 at 11:00 a.m
Eileen was born to Hugh and Helena Raymond (nee Thomas) of the 1st of Kenyon, Glengarry, on January 23rd 1929. At an early age, Eileen enlisted in the Cadets and made her way up through the ranks winning many accolades and honing her sharp shooting, being presented the Top Marksmanship Award.
Eileen married Donald Roy McDonell on July 30th, 1954 and the newlyweds moved to Maitland, Ontario. Although they loved their Leeds & Grenville community, a piece of their hearts remained in Glengarry and the first weekend of every August was reserved for the Glengarry Highland games. In a forty year span, Eileen and Don missed only one Glengarry Highland Games, because they were on vacation, as it turns out, visiting the castles and distilleries of Scotland itself.
Eileen began a career in education teaching in a one room schoolhouse, working her way up through the education system becoming a principal in 1967 where she was tasked with supervising both Algonquin Elementary and North Augusta Elementary. Eileen retired from education in 1984. Not one to stay idle, she found her next calling as a volunteer in the St. Vincent De Paul Hospital Site Auxiliary in Brockville, Ontario where she served for many years in various capacities, including that of President.
Although Eileen never had children of her own, she touched the lives of her many students and their families in a long and bountiful education career and was closely involved in the lives of her nieces, nephews and their families. She will be missed dearly and thought of fondly.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Apple Hill for both Eileen and her nephew Keith Darling on Thursday, July 13th, 2023 at 11:00 a.m