Shrewsbury – Sheilagh M. (Donoghue) Coulter, 78, died peacefully at home Monday, March 5, 2012 after an extended illness. She was married to Lt. Colonel Richard W. Coulter, who died in 2010, for 51 years.
Born Sept. 22, 1933 in Washington, D.C., she was the daughter of Harry and Helen (Crowley) Donoghue. She grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, and graduated from Trinity College with a political science degree. She worked as a research analyst for the CIA before marrying and raising a family. After her children were grown, she worked for over 20 years at the WPI Continuing Professional Education Program in Worcester, where she was a seminar coordinator and administrator for over 20 years.
She is survived by her son, Patrick Coulter of Shrewsbury, and her daughter, Maureen Coulter of Shrewsbury and daughter Christine Briggs and her husband, Timothy Briggs, of Shrewsbury. She will be greatly missed by her three close grandchildren, Michael and Timothy Briggs of Shrewsbury and Katie Coulter of Auburn. She also leaves her brother, Rev. Harry Thomas Donoghue of Washington, D.C.; her sister, Kathleen Woodland of Norristown, Pennsylvania; her brother, Kevin Donoghue and his wife, Phylis, of Potomac, Maryland; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Mrs. Coulter was a devoted military wife and mother, caring for and moving her family seven times during her husband's 22-year military career. She was very active in each community, participating in various women's groups, PTAs, scouts, and church organizations. For over 40 years, she was an active member and eucharistic minister at Saint Mary's Parish in Shrewsbury. She also volunteered at the Shrewsbury Public Library and Shrewsbury Council on Aging.
Calling hours will be held Thursday, March 8, from 4 to 7 p.m., at The Britton – Shrewsbury Funeral Home, 648 Main St., Shrewsbury. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, March 9, at 11 a.m., at Saint Mary's Church, corner of Main and Summer streets, Shrewsbury. Burial will be private at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, where she will be laid to rest next to her husband.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the UMass Levine Cancer Center, c/o UMass Development Office, 333 South St., Shrewsbury, MA 01545.
