Donald J. Minion, 79, husband of the late Sandra (McCarty) Minion, who passed away in June, passed on Thursday, Feb. 22 at Holy Family at Merrimack Valley Hospital in Haverhill surrounded by his loving family.
Born in Haverhill, he was the son of the late Thomas D. and Mary C. (Greaney) Minion. Raised and educated in Haverhill, he was a graduate of Haverhill Trade School, Class of 1956. Known as the “60 minute man,” he was a Haverhill High football star and was part of the last championship team in 1955, where he played both sides of the ball, starting center and nose tackle. Minion was employed for many years as an assembler at the former Western Electric and AT&T, retiring from Lucent Technologies. He was a big Boston Bruins and New England Patriots fan and he loved attending his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events. He enjoyed spending time at Salisbury Beach every summer with family and friends. Minion was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and brother who will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Minion is survived by his children Donna Sykes and her husband Harry of Orlando, Fla., Thomas J. Minion of Haverhill, Anna M. Minion-Roy and her husband Brian of Manchester, N.H., Donald Minion and his wife Nicole of Haverhill, Mary M. Minion of Haverhill, his sister Margaret Emerson of Chelmsford, nine grandchildren: Marcus, Carmelo, Maria, Anna Marie, Gavin, Lilly, Brody, Genesis and Emilee, two great- grandchildren Bradyn and Reghan, two sister in laws, Maureen Minion of Rochester, N.H. and Patricia Stone of Seabrook, N.H. In addition to his wife Sandra, Minion was predeceased by his children Richard Grage, Kelly Long, Stephen Long and his brothers Ronald Minion and Conrad Stone.
Family and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Wednesday, Feb. 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main Street, Haverhill. Funeral services will begin on Thursday morning at 9 a.m. at the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at St. James Church, Winter Street, Haverhill at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Ridgewood Cemetery, 177 Salem St., North Andover.