Ida 'Jackie' Donnelly

Ida Muriel "Jackie" Donnelly of St. Ignace was a former registered nurse who was known for homemade preserves made from wild berries she hand-picked each season.

Mrs. Donnelly died at the age of 98 Monday, January 1, 2007, at Mackinac Straits Hospital in St. Ignace.

She was born December 21, 1908, in Parry Sound, Ontario, and she moved to Sault Ste. Marie in 1935 to study nursing at War Memorial Hospital. She completed her training as a registered nurse, and she subsequently worked as a nurse in Michigan. While she was in Sault Ste Marie, she met John Donnelly, and they married October 2, 1936.

In 1937 they moved to St. Ignace.

Mrs. Donnelly continued her nursing career at Mackinac Straits Hospital, and she was director of nursing at the Long Term Care Facility when it first opened. She eventually retired from the facility.

Mr. Donnelly served as mayor of St. Ignace.

People remember that Mrs. Donnelly had a fulfilling life with family, friends, community service, and the many individual acts of kindness she became known for by all she came in contact with. She enjoyed reading, making ceramics, crocheting, and knitting. She was a member of the local Ladies Poker Club, and she enjoyed berry picking.

Mrs. Donnelly is survived by a daughter, Barbara Ann Donnelly of St. Ignace; two sons and their families, John David Donnelly of St. Ignace and Paul Dennis and Rosalee Donnelly of Overland Park, Kansas; four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John, February 15, 1983.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Friday, January 5, at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church in St. Ignace, where she was a member. Father Norbert Landreville officiated.

Burial was in St. Ignatius Cemetery in St. Ignace, beside her husband.

Memorial donations can be made to Mackinac Straits Hospital, the St. Ignace Public Library, or St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church. Envelopes are available from Dodson Funeral Home of St. Ignace, which assisted the family with arrangements.

Pallbearers were Michael Donnelly, Greg Cheeseman, George Yshinski, Susie Pearson, Ann Donnelly-Haasch, and Bucky McPhee.