Mary Jane Rhodes

Mary Jane (McCauley) MacDonald-Rhodes age 80 of Nashua, NH formerly of Groton, MA passed away suddenly on Wednesday, October 12, 2016 at her residence following a long battle with Parkinson's disease. She was the loving wife of Vincent J. Rhodes and the late Joseph R. “Skippy” MacDonald.

Born in Boston on December 20, 1935 she was the daughter of the late Francis T. and Elizabeth H. (Moran) McCauley.

Raised and educated in Cambridge, Mary Jane graduated from Cambridge High and Latin School. She later attended and graduated from Framingham State Teachers College with a Bachelor of Science in Education.

Mary Jane married her first husband Joe MacDonald on June 15, 1957 in St. Peter Church in Cambridge; they moved to Tewksbury before settling in Groton in 1963 for many years, where together they raised their loving children. Upon retirement Mary Jane and Joe continued their life together in Nashua, NH.  Following the death of Joe in 1993, she met Vincent Rhodes and they married on July 12, 1997.

Mary Jane was a home economics teacher in Chelmsford for many years.  She had an eye for decorating and always maintained a beautiful home. She loved to cook and to travel and she especially enjoyed spending time with her family. Some of her favorite activities were watching her grandchildren's sporting events, having dinner with friends, and traveling to Florida in the winter.

Along with her husband she is survived by her children, Michael F. MacDonald of Pepperell, Katherine Richardson and her husband Burton of Kittery, ME and Kevin P. MacDonald and his wife Linda of Groton. She is also survived by her stepchildren, Donald J. Rhodes of Richmond, RI and Linda A. Dolansky and her husband Robert of Monroe, NY, her sisters Elisabeth A. and Frances E. McCauley both of Cambridge, and her grandchildren Miles, Joseph, Emma, Sarah and her step-grandchildren, Dillon, Connor and Taila.

Family and friends will gather to honor and remember Mary Jane on Tuesday, October 18 from 9:30-11:00 am in St. Joseph the Worker Parish, 777 West Hollis Street, Nashua.  Her funeral mass will follow at 11:00 am.  Burial will be in Groton Cemetery, Groton. In lieu of flowers donations in her memory may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, 469 7th Ave., New York, NY 10018. Arrangements under the care of Badger Funeral Home, 45 School St. Groton.