Louise S. (Mawn) McDonough

LOUISE S. (MAWN) McDONOUGH – in Woburn, Wednesday, October 12th. Beloved wife of the late William J. “Bill” McDonough. Loving and devoted mother of Mary Lou McDonough of Woburn, James M. McDonough and his wife Ellen and William J. McDonough, Jr. and his wife Katie, all of San Antonio, TX. Dear sister of Mary Negri and her husband Dominic of Woburn and the late James J. Mawn and Thomas M. Mawn, Jr. Sister-in-law of Dorothy Mawn of Woburn and Rita Mawn of Gloucester. Cherished grandmother of Robert, Connor, James, Jr., and William McDonough III, all of San Antonio. Funeral from the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn on Tuesday, October 18th at 9:15 a.m. Funeral Mass in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn at 10. Calling hours Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. Interment in Calvary Cemetery, Woburn. Donations may be made in Louise’s memory to the Lahey Clinic Medical Center, c/o Philanthropy Department, 41 Mall Road, Burlington, MA 01805, or to the University of Notre Dame, Department of Development, 1100 Grace Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556.

OBITUARY:

Louise S. (Mawn) McDonough, beloved wife of the late William J. “Bill” McDonough, passed away amongst her loving family on Wednesday evening, October 12th.

Born in Woburn, she was one of four children born to the late Thomas M. and Catherine (McEleney) Mawn. She was brought up in Woburn and attended St. Charles Elementary School and was a graduate of St Charles High School, Class of 1944. From there Louise continued her education at Boston University, where she earned both her Bachelor’s and Masters Degrees in Education.

Following college she began teaching Business Education at Woburn High School. Her career spanned several decades and she rose to Department Chairperson of Business Education, a position she held for fourteen years prior to her retirement in 1991. Louise was recognized as an outstanding teacher and administrator amongst her students, peers and colleagues. Following her retirement, she worked for over twenty years at Mawn and Mawn, a law firm owned by her brothers Thomas and James.

In 1958 Louise married her devoted husband, Bill McDonough. Together they had three wonderful children and over the next forty-seven years shared in all of their athletic, educational and personal and professional achievements. Actively involved throughout their college careers, they would travel near and far so as to spend time together and be their best and strongest supporters. Their children were their pride and joy.

As time passed by, another generation of the McDonough family began arriving. “Nana,” as she was affectionately known, shared many happy times with her grandchildren. Being a very special “Nana,” she had a wonderful relationship with each individual grandchild. Throughout her lifetime Louise dedicated herself to her family. Many happy hours were spent with her daughter, shopping, dining or walking the Pond. They often traveled to visit the boys and their families in Texas, partaking in the grandchildren’s sporting and academic accomplishments. She embraced it all. Louise was a very dedicated person in all aspects of her life. Throughout her lifetime she strove to be the best, as a daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt, teacher and friend. Through the eyes of all, she had achieved this goal, quietly and most effectively.

Preceding her in death, along with her husband Bill, who died in 2005, were two brothers, James J. Mawn, who passed away on October 5th, and Thomas M. Mawn, Jr.

Surviving are three children: Mary Lou McDonough of Woburn and James M. McDonough and his wife Ellen and William J. McDonough, Jr. and his wife Katie, all of San Antonio, Texas, her sister, Mary Negri and her husband Dominic of Woburn, and sisters-in-law Dorothy Mawn of Woburn and Rita Mawn of Gloucester. She was the cherished grandmother of Robert, Connor, James, Jr., and William McDonough III, all of San Antonio.

The funeral will be held from the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, 263 Main Street, Woburn on Tuesday, October 18th at 9:15 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn at 10. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Woburn.

Relatives and friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Monday from 4 to 7 p.m.

Donations may be made in Louise’s memory to the Lahey Clinic Medical Center, c/o Philanthropy Department, 41 Mall Road, Burlington, MA 01805, or to the University of Notre Dame, Department of Development, 1100 Grace Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556.