Anita Conway McDonald, 82

Anita Conway McDonald, a longtime resident of Rockville Centre, died on Jan. 30 while in hospice care at the home of her son, NYPD Detective Steven McDonald and his wife, Malverne Mayor Patricia Ann Norris-McDonald. She was 82 and had fought a battle against cancer.

Born in the Bronx to Catherine Boland Conway and James Conway, she was employed by New York Telephone before marrying David McDonald. The McDonalds lived in Queens Village until moving to Rockville Centre in 1964. McDonald was the beloved mother of eight children: Patricia (Timothy) Gallagher; Maura Kelly; Steven (Patricia Ann); Theresa (Peter) Wadkins; Owen (Laura); Clare (Timothy) McDonnell; Dolores (Kevin) Murphy; and Thomas.

McDonald accompanied Steven, Patti and Conor on several of their missions to Ireland, Lourdes, Medjugorje and the Holy Land. She was a beloved friend of the late Father Mychal Judge, and participated in the annual 9/11-Father Mychal Judge Walk of Remembrance from its inception until 2012. She proudly marched with her family in every New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade since 1988. McDonald was a parishioner of St. Agnes since 1964, and was devoted to the Rosary. She became a member of the Block Rosary in the 1960s and continued that devotion with family and friends throughout the rest of her life. She also returned to the workforce, becoming a statistical typist at accounting firms in the area.

McDonald lay in repose at Macken Mortuary and was fondly remembered by so many whose lives she touched. Her funeral Mass at St. Agnes Cathedral was celebrated by Monsignor William E. Koenig, Rector of St. Agnes; Father Peter LeJacq.; Rev. Msgr. Frank Caldwell, Pastor, St. Martha’s, Uniondale; and Rev. Msgr. Seamus O’Boyle, Diocese of Westminster, London. The NYPD Honor Guard and the NYPD Emerald Society Pipes and Drums escorted the funeral procession from the cathedral. She was interred at St. Charles Cemetery.

McDonald is also survived by her sister, Catherine O’Donnell; grandchildren Patrick and Brian Gallagher; Timothy and Kevin Kelly; Conor McDonald; Katherine, Jessica and Peter Wadkins; Lily McDonald; Timothy and Matthew McDonnell; Mary Anita, Grace and John Murphy; Shane, Maeve and Kylie McDonald; and sisters-in-law Jacqueline McDonald and Gloria McDonald, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.