Carol MacDonald

Carol A. (Quinlan) MacDonald, 80, of Worcester, lovingly known as “Mimi.” passed away Oct. 7, 2024. Born and raised in Newton, she was the daughter of the late Maybelle (Chevarley) and Raymond Quinlan.

An overachiever in childhood, Carol stormed onto the competition yo-yo scene in 1956, when, as regional champion, she would delight the Saturday matinee crowds at the old Paramount theater in Newton Corner with astonishing feats of “walk the dog” and “around the world” between feature presentations. Never one to rest on her laurels, she then became one of only very few of her classmates at Our Lady’s High School awarded the Palmer Method proficiency certification for handwriting, despite the handicap of being left-handed.

When she and her husband moved to Framingham in 1975 to raise their three children, her mother, Maybelle, feared of ever seeing her again, as she was moving far out to “the country” — some 25 minutes away. She is survived by those three children: Kevin MacDonald and wife Burnedette of Hopkinton, Christine MacDonald of North Providence, Rhode Island, and Brian MacDonald and wife Christina of Worcester, who will miss Mom dearly.

And while she loved her children, her collection of dolls and her extensive seasonal and holiday decorations — not necessarily in that order — Mimi’s true loves were her three grandchildren, Ainsley, Cameron and James MacDonald, and she was very proud of everything they are becoming.

She also leaves behind her brother, Paul Quinlan of Warwick, Rhode Island, her two nieces, Natasha and Annemarie, as well as her former spouse, John MacDonald of North Providence, Rhode Island.

Visitation will be held on Friday, Oct. 11, from 5-8 p.m. at Chesmore Funeral Home of Hopkinton, 57 Hayden Rowe Street. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Newton. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Waltham. Memorial donations may be made to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, USA (oblatesusa.org/donate).

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