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Obituaries

Raymond F. Donohue | Funeral director, 73

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Raymond F. Donohue, 73, of Drexel Hill, a retired funeral director, died of heart failure Tuesday at home.

Mr. Donohue grew up in the funeral business that his grandfather and great-uncle established in West Philadelphia in 1898. After graduating from Upper Darby High School, he served in the Navy Reserve and then in the Army.

After his discharge, he graduated from the Eckels School of Mortuary Science in Philadelphia. He then joined the family business, which had moved to Upper Darby. Eventually, he became president of Donohue Funeral Homes, with five locations in Delaware and Chester County, supervised by 12 family members. He retired in 2000.

An accomplished genealogist, Mr. Donohue traced his family ancestry in Ireland back to the 1600s and visited extended family there in County Kerry. He was active with several Irish organizations, including the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.

Mr. Donohue collected LGB model trains and invited schoolchildren to see his indoor and outdoor layouts, his son John said. He enjoyed golfing at the Llanerch Country Club.

He was also a fisherman and hunter, his son said, and he loved spending time with his children and grandchildren on his 160-acre farm in Sullivan County, Pa.

In addition to his son John, he is survived by his wife of 47 years, Carol Ann Krohmer; sons Michael, Daniel and Dennis; daughters Janet Hopson and Donna Hendricks; two brothers; and 17 grandchildren.

Friends may call from 6:30 to 9 p.m. today and from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. tomorrow at Donohue Funeral Home, 8401 West Chester Pike, Upper Darby. A Funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. tomorrow at St. Bernadette Church, 1035 Turner Ave., Drexel Hill. Burial will be in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Marple Township.