Hudson – Donald F. Daigneault, 86, a lifelong resident of Hudson, died peacefully Wednesday, March 18, 2015, surrounded by his loving family, at UMass Memorial Medical Center, University Campus in Worcester. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Beverly A. (Veo) Daigneault of Hudson.
Donald was born in Marlborough, son of the late Leve F. and Rose (Lanoue) Daigneault. He was raised in Hudson where he attended local schools and was a 1946 graduate of Hudson High School. Following high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a Veteran of WWII and Korea until being honorably discharged in 1951. He later attended Bentley College and the Culinary Institute of America in Hartford, Conn.
He owned and operated the Rotary Diner in Hudson for many years until he sold the diner in 1986. He then continued his career in food service as the cafeteria manager within the Milford Public School System from 1986 until retiring in 1996.
Donald was a former member of the Hudson School Committee and member of Saint Michael’s Parish in Hudson.
Donald’s passion in life was cooking. He always looked forward to family gatherings and preparing many of his favorite dishes for everyone to enjoy. He also looked forward to sharing his wonderful voice, singing whenever he had the opportunity. He was a loving husband, devoted father, and adoring grandfather and great-grandfather. He will be truly missed.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his children, Michele Nemec and her husband George of Columbus, N.J., David Daigneault and his wife Stella of Hudson, Suzanne Murphy and her husband Lee of Hudson, Aimee Sweringen and her husband Gary of Royal Palm Beach, Fla., Claudia Piper and her husband Scott of Leominster, Annette Mollica and her husband Steven of Hudson, and Valerie McGregor and her husband Bruce of Lancaster. He is also survived by his brother, Albert Daigneault and his wife Jane of Hudson; his brother-in-law, Robert Veo of Hudson; his 17 grandchildren, Andrew Bruster and his wife Kerry of Marlborough, Laura Bruster of Marlborough, Jessie Daigneault of Newton, Maureen Murphy and her husband Steve Forest of Hudson, Joseph Murphy and James Murphy, both of East Boston, John Murphy and his wife Amy Geer of Leominster, Elizabeth Murphy of Medford, Alexander Roman and Nicholas Roman, both of Royal Palm Beach, Fla., Patrick Bohenko of Leominster, Audrey Piper and Christopher Piper, both of Leominster, Anthony Mollica and Natalie Mollica, both of Hudson, and Sarah McGregor and Ian McGregor, both of Lancaster; his two great-grandchildren, Nathan and AJ Bruster of Marlborough; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was the brother of the late Helen Best.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, March 21, at 9 a.m., in Saint Michael’s Church, 21 Manning St., Hudson. Burial will follow in Saint Michael’s Cemetery, Hudson. Calling hours will be held Friday, March 20, from 5-8 p.m., at the Tighe-Hamilton Funeral Home, 50 Central St., Hudson.
