Published in the February 14, 2019 edition.
AUGUSTA, Maine — Margaret Rose O’Donnell, 66, better known to her family and friends as Sue or Suzie, passed away on Feb. 7, 2019, at Maine General Hospital in Augusta, Maine.
She was born Feb. 19, 1952 in Melrose, the youngest of six children of Thomas and Elizabeth (Hamilton) O’Donnell. Sue lived in Wakefield for many years where she attended St. Joseph’s School and Our Lady of Nazareth Academy. Her father Thomas G. O’Donnell was a teacher and football coach at Wakefield Memorial High School from 1950-1956. The O’Donnell family had the equivalent of a little farm at their home on Broadway with a horse, chickens, and a turkey, as well as miscellaneous cats and dogs. This is where Sue grew up and what encouraged her lifelong love of horses and animals.
Sue moved to Lynn in the early 1980s and was employed for many years as a quality assurance manager for the Kevlin Corporation, an aerospace company. In her spare time, she was very involved with horses, including participating in many dressage events. She was a generous mentor to young riders and horse owners at Alfalfa Farm in Topsfield.
Sue and her partner of 25 years, John Cheever, moved to Clinton, Maine in 2004; they married on April 19, 2008. In Clinton, Sue was able to realize her dream of her own farm where she and John cared for four horses, two dogs, and two cats, a garden, and a canoe on 40 acres. She was a volunteer for the Clinton Lions Club fair and other local activities and, because of her cheerful and friendly personality, has many friends and neighbors who will miss her dearly.
Sue also has a connection to Lynn, where she lived on Pennybrook Lane from the early 1980s until 2004. Her husband John is a native of Lynn; he is one of nine children who grew up there.
Sue is survived by her husband, John Cheever of Clinton, Maine; three sisters: Diane Harmon of Saugus; Marilee O’Donnell Cunningham of Harpers Ferry, W.V.; Betsy Rogers of Wakefield; and one brother, Thomas G. O’Donnell Jr. of Severna Park, Md. Her brother, John O’Donnell of Clearwater, Florida predeceased Sue in February of 2018. She also leaves a large extended family of nieces and nephews. All of her family and friends will miss her sunny personality and loving nature.
A celebration of Sue’s life will be held Sunday, March 17 at noon at the home of Sue and John, 570 Horseback Road, Clinton, Maine.
