Cecile Donellan Potter Obituary
Cecile Donellan Potter, 93, a longtime Norwalk CT resident, died on July 25, 2026 at Stamford Hospital surrounded by her daughters, Eileen Donellan Pickering and Kathleen Donellan.
She is predeceased by her first husband Capt. Edward T. Donellan of the Norwalk Police Dept., her sisters Theresa Bonenfant (Leondre), Mary Paul, Bertha Fredette (Armand), Gabrielle Fontaine (Roger), Eugenie Lussier (John), Madeleine Lepine (Norman), her brother John Paul, her in-laws Kathleen and William Mullane, brother in law Joseph Kastrup as well as her second husband George O. Potter Jr. and grand-daughter Caroline Victoria Potter.
She is survived by her daughters, her son in laws James P. Pickering Jr and Emil Chenard, her sister Francoise Leroux and her brother/sister in laws: Kathleen Kastrup, Maureen Browning (Bob), Eileen Garger (Steve), Colleen Moore (Michael), Pegeen Newman (Ed), Robert Mullane (Leslie), William Mullane (Kathy), Kenneth Mullane (Michelle), and Tommy Mullane (Linda) as well as many treasured nieces and nephews. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren: Kaden, Victoria and Chelsea Chenard, and Jacqueline Pickering. She could often be seen on a baseball or softball field, as the white haired lady with the walker who, no matter what the terrain, would fearlessly make her way to the field to be Kaden or Jacqueline's biggest fan.
In 1988, when she married George, Cecile became the loving stepmother to Thomas Potter (Sharon), James (Maureen), Kevin Potter and Elizabeth Potter. She welcomed becoming a grandmother to Kelly (Sullivan) Ciarcia, Sarah (Potter) Yannes, James and Gregory Potter, Katy, Brian, and Douglas Potter. She is also survived by her great grandchildren: Joseph, William, Nathan, and Patrick Ciarcia, Ezrah and Remy Yannes.
Cecile was born in Daveluyville, Quebec, Canada, the baby of Willie D. and Hortense Doucet Pauls' 9 children: Theresa, Mary, Bertha, Gabrielle, Eugenie, Madeleine, Francoise and her only brother John Paul. Cecile moved to the United States with her family when she was 3 years old. She attended convent school at St. Joseph Orphanage in Fall River MA with her sisters Jean, Francoise and Madeleine until her family moved permanently to Norwalk, CT when she was seven years old. She attended school in Norwalk and completed 2 years of high school at Sacred Heart Academy in Stamford, CT. before entering the work world as a teenager. She later earned her GED and achieved an amazing career at Leading National Advertising, riding the introduction of the computer age. She eventually retired as a senior executive in 1977 to become a full time homemaker.
Cecile will be fondly remembered for being the social butterfly who was always ready to help (whether she knew you or not), someone who had the courage to be silly. who loved to laugh, and someone who could burst into song with her amazing singing voice at any time. She was a treasured friend, a trusted aunt, a devoted sister in law, a caring neighbor and confidant to many.
Throughout Eileen and Katheen's childhood, Cecile spent many years volunteering at St. Philip School where she was also a Girl Scout Leader for many years. In 1979, when her husband Capt. Edward Donellan died of a sudden heart attack on duty, she sought the support of a group called Theos in a town 30 minutes away. Given the drive and her small children at the time, she and a friend decided to start their own Chapter of this "widow and widowers" group in Norwalk. She ran this weekly group faithfully for 13 years and helped countless numbers of people through their grief at the loss of a loved one. This is where she met George, who attended the group after his first wife passed away.
Cecile was a very proud French Canadian who immediately connected when she noted anyone speaking French. On June 27, 1983 she and her longtime friend, Teresa ("Terri" Marcotte) Fontaine were honored as the creators of the French Canadian Plaque that is displayed at Norwalk's Heritage Wall on West Ave.
She enjoyed hosting huge family 4th of July parties, traveling, vacationing at the Delaware beaches with her sisters and their children, indulging in anything sweet and was an avid treasure hunter at local tag sales.
Eileen and Kathleen would especially like to thank the many staff members at Meadow Ridge Assisted Living and the Memory Care Unit who welcomed mom into their family of residents, assured her health and safety, and partnered with us to assure she was able to live her "best life" for the past three years. Your love, dedication and enthusiasm in your interactions with mom was an absolute gift to both of our families. Your partnership with us along the way will never be forgotten. She adopted you as her family away from her family and loved her time spent with you. In addition, we are also incredibly grateful to each and every one of the staff we came in contact with (including the Hospice Team) at Stamford Hospital's 6th floor who attended not only to mom in her last 18 days of life but also made my sister Kathleen and I cared about and emotionally comforted in the many hours we spent with her in her hospital room.
Family and friends are invited to attend a wake on Thursday, July 30th from 4-7pm at Magner's Funeral Home, 12 Mott Avenue, Norwalk, CT. A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, July 31st at 10am at St. Philip Church, One Fr. Conlon Pl., Norwalk CT followed by a burial at St. John Cemetery, 223 Richards Ave Norwalk, CT.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly request that donations in memory of Cecile be made to Matthews Hearts of Hope https://matthewsheartsofhope.org. in honor of her incredibly loving and kind heart and her dedication to the American Heart Association or to her cherished place of worship: St. Philips Church https://www.stphilipnorwalk.org.
