June 10, 1932 – July 6, 2019

Mrs. Maurine Rose Donnelly, 87, of Center Moriches, New York, passed away Saturday, July 6, at the Kanas Hospice Center, Quiogue, New York. Mrs. Donnelly was born in Altamont, Kansas in 1932. Her parents were farmers and teachers. Her father was the son of Swedish immigrants, and her mother was the daughter of American settlers and Revolutionary War soldiers of British Isles and Northern European origin. Mrs. Donnelly graduated from Carthage College with a BA degree in English. She was published in the National Anthology of College Poetry, a member of Kappa Pi, a national art fraternity, Alpha Psi Omega, a national dramatic fraternity, and Charter President of Sigma Tau Delta. Mrs. Donnelly pursued a Master of Library Science at Rutgers, New Jersey. She discontinued her studies to raise a family. In 1958 she married Carroll Gerard Donnelly. Both shared a love of the arts, a love they shared with their family. Avid readers, they both worked at the Center Moriches Free Public Library (CMFPL), where Mrs. Donnelly was a Publicist. In addition, she developed a column in the library newsletter, and she wrote about the history of the library. She partook of literary and artistic activities including the National League of American Pen Women, TapRoot (Bellport), Poets Rising (Hampton Bays), Lois Schnackenburg's Puppetry, and established the CMFPL Poetry Group. Her portrait was painted as part of the 'Gotcha Series' by a fellow artist and friend, Beverley Livernoche. Mrs. Donnelly belonged to the Moriches Bay Garden Club, Historical Society, Friends of the Library, and a local quilting/sewing group held at the Presbyterian Church. In addition to a 50 year career at the library, Mrs. Donnelly worked briefly at Triconic Lab. Over the years, she gathered a collection of books and local artist paintings, including Tuma, Wybenga, Schnackenburg, and more, all of which were an inspiration to her family and friends. She is survived by her daughter, Patrice L. Donnelly and husband Paul Boben of Columbia, Maryland; her son, Eric C. Donnelly, of Center Moriches; her step-son Robert E. Donnelly of Montclair, New Jersey and wife Wendy; stepgranddaughter Kathryn Tague (nee Donnelly), husband Hugh Tague, Jr., and two sons Jeremy Easton and Ian Carroll, and adoptive grandchildren Yana and Michael Donnelly. She was preceded in death by her son Stephen, brother Oliver Clifford Anderson, Jr., and husband Carroll Gerard Donnelly. Mrs. Donnelly is laid to rest at Long Island National Cemetery.