Anita Gail O'Donoghue

Anita Gail (Lovejoy) O’Donoghue, 80, of Allen, Texas, passed away peacefully on April 11, 2023 with her husband Denis of 54 years at her side.

Anita’s family remembers a mural she painted across an entire wall of her toddler twins’ bedroom to keep them entertained. It depicted a wide-eyed monkey with a long brown tail and a spotted yellow giraffe amidst green palm fronds. The wilderness-scape was just one of the many expressions of her lifelong interest in art and of her limitless love for her children.

Born on July 6, 1942, Anita was a mother of five, grandmother of 11 and teacher to hundreds of students over a multi-decade calling as an elementary school teacher – notably in Sparta, New Jersey and Richardson, Texas. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles, where she was living when she met her husband Denis.

Anita and Denis were married on Aug. 10, 1968, lived happily for many decades in New Jersey and Texas, raised five children, traveled the world together and frequently visited their sons and daughters and grandchildren. Anita also earned a master’s degree from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. She was an active member of the Catholic Community of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and its Shawl Ministry.

Anita’s family, friends and former students remember her for her love of drawing and of playing piano and for her many nourishing words and gestures across the years. These gestures included regularly sending care packages full of frying pans, potholders and gadgets to her sons and daughters to ensure they were sufficiently well equipped in the kitchen. She is also remembered for her world-class collections of mortars and pestles and of nutcrackers.

Anita was preceded in death by her mother, Martha (Klose) Lovejoy, and her father, Gerald Lovejoy, her brother Joseph Lovejoy and her sister Jean Bruce. She is survived by her husband Denis, her son Kevin of Downers Grove, Ill., daughters Susan (Bruce) Valencia of Temecula, Calif., Kirsten of Broomfield, Colo., Erin (Chris) Miller of Lehi, Utah, son Ryan (Dawne) of Cedar Park, Texas, and her grandchildren Hana, Jacob, Kevin, Michael, Emma, Liam, Isabel, Connor, Kiera, Maggie and Sadie. Anita’s family is grateful for many years of good health, which allowed for beautiful memories that will be cherished forever.

The Rosary will be recited from 6:00-6:30 p.m. and the family will receive friends at a visitation from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at Allen Family Funeral Options.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Faith Formation Center, 3100 W. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano, Texas with Rev. Bruce Bradley officiating.  If you wish to join the service via webcast, please visit: https://youtube.com/live/ogukNisZbeE?feature=share