Obituaries

Agnes C. "Dunna" Oliva

Sep 16th, 2015

Agnes C. "Dunna" Oliva, formerly of Scituate and North Port, Fla., passed peacefully on September 16, 2015, ten days after her 92nd birthday.

She was the loving wife of the late Joseph J. Oliva for over sixty years.

She is survived by her daughter, Donna A. Greco of Bass River; her brother, Paul McDonough and wife Mary of Milton; sister-in-law, Claire McDonough of Scituate; many nieces and nephews; and her special dear friend, Mrs. Peggy Lloyd of North Port, Fla.

Born September 6, 1923, in Dorchester, to Agnes C. and Francis L. McDonough, Dunna, as she was always known, was the second of nine siblings, seven of whom predeceased her, Mary McDonough, twins William and Joseph, Frank McDonough, Helen MacVarish, Bernadette McDonough, John McDonough and Anne O'Connor.

Dunna was a 1941 graduate of Notre Dame Academy Catholic High School, formerly of Roxbury, and began her long secretarial career initially with Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance Agency of Boston and New York then as a Navy secretary to the Chief Inspector of the Naval Branch of Fore River Shipyard in Quincy.

Dunna met her husband Joe at a USO dance in Boston in 1942 shortly after Joe had volunteered for service at the onset of World War II. They married on New Years Day, January 1, 1949, at St. Peter's Catholic Church Dorchester.

They built their first home on Third Cliff in Scituate, where they brought up their daughter Donna and then a summer home in Bass River. A true partnership, Dunna and Joe cleared the land and built both of their homes stick by stick with loving attention to detail.

Dunna was always involved in her daughters schools as a Parent Teacher Assistant, Troup Leader of 409 Girl Scout Troup, Scituate, CCD assistant at St. Mary's of the Nativity Catholic Church, Scituate, volunteered secretarial assistance to her daughters high school Notre Dame Academy, Hingham, whenever she was asked. Dunna was never happier than when she was swimming and "floating" as she would say in the ocean and especially in the pool with her dear friends in Florida and Maine. She also loved to bike ride and then for years while her sight allowed, she enjoyed and was an accomplished knitter of vests, afghan's and scarves.

A special thank you to Dunna's doctor, Dr. Michelle Mudgett. A grateful thank you for the professional and loving care she received at Webster Park Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center over the past five months. Every associate deserves the highest of praise and respect for their outstanding affection they bestowed upon Dunna. Dunna was a shining light, perpetually smiling and embracing to everyone she met. She was a non replaceable remarkable lady at all times and will be dearly missed and always loved.

Visitation will be Tuesday, September 22, at the Hallett Funeral Home, 273 Station Ave., South Yarmouth, from 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. 

A 10 a.m. funeral Mass at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Station Ave., South Yarmouth will followed by interment beside her dear husband Joe at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, MacArthur Blvd., Bourne, at 12:45 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, kindly considering a donation in Dunna's name to the Camden-Rockport Animal Rescue League, Camden, ME, where she adopted her loving companion dog Tippy ten years ago.
 

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