Marie Z. Macdonald

Marie Zoe MacDonald, 94, resident of Manchester, NH, died on November 6, 2017 at Villa Crest Nursing Home. The days leading up to her passing were filled with visits from her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, as well as staff members who had long been delighted by Zoe’s personality, charm, and grace. Marie, better known by family and friends as Zoe, was born in Chelsea, MA in the summer of 1923, the second daughter of Edward and Ella (Lynch) Forbes. A graduate of Chelsea’s St. Rose School, Zoe later relocated to Hudson. Raising nine children during meager times looked easy in the MacDonald household, where everybody was always welcomed. Zoe, always creative in the kitchen, knew how to stretch whatever she had and was quick to set an extra place at her table. In addition to her efforts as a homemaker, Zoe worked for Sanders Associates in Nashua, NH for 25 years – a job that afforded her lifelong friendships. An avid traveler, Zoe enjoyed traveling with Arthur and the two took various trips within the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. Not surprising for an Irish girl, Zoe loved Celtic music and for years hosted rollicking St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at her home on Central Street for her ever-growing family. Zoe was predeceased by her husband, Arthur H. MacDonald, who died in 2006 and their daughter, Claire MacDonald Shepardson, who died in 2007, and her sister, Beatrice Claire Forbes, who died in 2005. Family members include five daughters and four sons-in-law, Jane and Mark Pidhorodecky of Lawrenceville, GA, Lois and Steve Johnson of Wilton, NH, Christina and Daniel Silva of Manchester, NH, Marie Wells of Milford, NH, and Zoe and Jim Doane of Amherst, NH; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Stephen and Linda MacDonald of Hampstead, NH, Paul and Judy MacDonald of Merrimack, NH, and Ross MacDonald of Merrimack, NH; 17 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. A visiting hour will be held on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 from 10:00 am-11:00 am at the Milford United Methodist Church, 327 North River Rd, Milford, NH. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 am. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in, Milford, NH immediately following the services. In lieu of flowers, Zoe’s family has asked that you consider donating to one of her favorite charitable organizations: the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), the Alzheimer’s Association, or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.