Janet Hilary (Putnam) Macdonald

Janet Hilary (Putnam)Macdonald

March 20, 1942-August 16, 2023

On August 16, 2023, after a long battle with COPD/ Emphysema and recent pneumonia, we lost our dear mother, Janet H. Macdonald.

Grandmother of 13, best friend and most beloved wife of our Dad, Laurence P Macdonald for 57 and a half years, she was dedicated to her faith and family.

Mom was born in Boston and raised by her father, Philip Putnam and her Mother Thelma Putnam along with her older brother John Bruce Putnam and younger sisterJoyce (Putnam) Curll in Belmont.

After meeting through the Belmont Dramatic Club, she and Dad married in January of 1966.

They raised their 4 children, Bruce P. Macdonald, Charles R. Macdonald, Lauren H. Macdonald-Rathbun and Mary A. Warchal in Auburndale (a village of Newton) and returned to Belmont to live in the home she was raised in in 1993.

Mom was an active member of the Belmont community serving on the Disability Access Committee, a member of the Belmont Dramatic Club, and The Saturday Morning Club. She also was a devout member of All Saint’s Episcopal Church in Belmont as well as at The Parish Of The Messiah in Auburndale and served on the altar guild for a long period. For many years, she also played Bridge every Monday at the Belmont Senior Center.

Mom had many jobs over the course of her life including swimming instructor, teacher at United Cerebral Palsy, bus driver for Lex Press, and worked at the Food Services department at Harvard Law School.

One of her most proud accomplishments was that of graduating from Framingham State in 1963; the first state normal school. She was a regular attendee of her class reunions and this past June, attended her 60th reunion with Dad by her side!

Mom was incredibly proud of each of us and encouraged us to be good to each other as well as ourselves. She was also proud of her title of Grandmother to my two girls, Lauren’s six children, Charles 2 children, and Bruce’s 3 children and always referred to them as her “baker’s dozen.

She also adored very much her two nieces, Sara Putnam and Jenny Putnam and her nephew Nathaniel Putnam and his wife Virginia Kozak Putnam.

Mom had so many friends in her community and all around and was loved deeply by her daughters in law, Pam Macdonald and Julie Crawford Macdonald and her two sons in law Abe Rathbun and Thomas Warchal.

We are deeply saddened by this enormous loss to our family. After taking some time to adjust to our “new normal”, her funeral will take place on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 11 AM, with visiting hours from 4-7pm on Friday, September 22, 2023 at All Saints Episcopal Church, 17 Clark Street, Belmont, Ma.

Mom always wanted people to know they were loved and gifted it to anyone who wanted it because it was free. She never left anyone or let anyone leave her without an “I Love You” and she has passed that on to all of us.

In her honor, please give love to anyone who wants it.

#teammom

Offerings in Janet's memory may be made to All Saints' Church Altar Guild Fund"

Arrangements by the Short, Williamson & Diamond Funeral Home. swdfuneralhome.com

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