Marie G. Donnelly of Southampton died at her home on December 18. She was 86.
Born on September 4, 1922, she was the daughter of Harold and Marie Busch.
She was a member of the Olde Towne Garden Club and the Horticultural Alliance of the Hamptons and served as president of both clubs. She was also a member of the Southampton Rose Society and was an active member of the Village of Southampton Beautification Committee.
According to survivors she will be deeply missed in the gardening world for her ardent and dedicated gardening, first in Rockville Centre where she grew up, and for the past 25 years in Southampton. Survivors said this week that her knowledge of horticulture was profound and that she was loved by all for her pleasant personality and for her generosity in sharing, not only her knowledge of plants, but also her many plants themselves. Survivors recalled that whenever anyone admired one of her plants she would quickly give it to them along with advice on its care.
She received numerous awards for her work, including the Garden Club of America Horticultural Award for Outstanding Achievements in Horticulture. Her garden was listed in the Garden Conservancy and featured in The New York Times and several books. Recently, the Southampton Garden Club established the “Marie Donnelly Horticultural Award” and awarded it to her as its first recipient.
In addition to her husband of 61 years, William Donnelly of Southampton, she is survived by a daughter, Laureen Donnelly of Maine; four sons and their wives, Christopher and Ann Donnelly of Fayetteville, Michael and Patricia Donnelly of Goshen, Kevin and Judi Donnelly of Massachusetts and Gregory and Ann Donnelly of Montana; two sisters, Jacqueline McCracken of Florida and Sister Victoria Busch of Virginia; five granddaughters, Kiely, Laura, Lisa, Jennifer and Kristen; and two grandsons, Peter and Daniel.
Visitation was on December 22 at the O’Connell Funeral Home in Southampton. Funeral services were held on December 23 at Sacred Hearts Church, followed by interment in the church cemetery.
on Jan 5, 2009