Maureen (Lavery) Donovan, 85, former and most glamorous Snowball Queen of the Delta Gamma Delta Winter Formal in the mid-1940s, died peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday, March 9, 2019.

Friends and family recall a gracious, caring listener who often gave wise advice and the occasional prayer to St. Jude, the Patron Saint of Lost Causes.  A woman of unshakable faith, Maureen never missed the opportunity to enter the Publishers' Clearinghouse Sweepstakes, although the Grand Prize eluded her in this life.

Maureen exhibited talent for the needle arts; her knitted afghans & mittens were treasured gifts.  She loved to read & kept detailed records of every book she read or reread over the years.  But her real talents were realized in the kitchen where Maureen produced a pie crust unrivaled.  In fact, had she not agreed to a recent tutorial for her daughters, sister & granddaughters, that recipe would have "gone to the grave with her."

Maureen was predeceased by her parents, David J. and Victoria Siembor Lavery; sisters Kathleen Chandler and Joanne Leithner; brother Owen; and her husband, Alfred E. Donovan.

She is survived by her aunt Mary Siembor Polczak; brothers David J. and Thomas P. Lavery; sisters Sarah J. Lavery, Patricia Thomas and Eileen S. Goldych; sons Timothy A. (Laura), Daniel G. (Valerie) and James P. (Kory); daughters Eileen A. and Margaret J. (Brad) Sherman; grandchildren Kristian, Madeline, Casey, Amanda, Emma and Matthew Donovan, Caitlin Sturge, Kelsey Burns, Shannon Hammond, Libby and Brenna Sherman; great-grandchildren Timothy, Owen and Ada Sturge, Nora Hammond; and many nieces and nephews

Calling hours will be held Friday, March 15, 4-7pm at Dain-Cullinan Funeral Home, Oswego with a Mass of Christian burial on Saturday, March 16 at 10:00am at St. Stephen's Church, Oswego.  Burial: St. Peter's Cemetery, Oswego.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to United Way of Greater Oswego County, 1 S. First St, Fulton, NY 13069.