Obituary of Donald W Pushard

Brewer—

Donald W. Pushard, 79, went home to the Lord August 2, 2018.  He was born in Richmond, ME on February 14, 1939, to Charles E. Pushard Sr. and Leona (Leclair). 

Donald graduated from Lewiston High School in 1957, and then enlisted in the U.S. Army, spending 27 months in Heilbronn, Germany.  On October 29, 1960, he married Claudette Masse, the love of his life.  They raised two children and have lived in Brewer since 1966.  In 1962, Donald became a patrolman for the Lewiston Police Department, where he served for 3 ½ years.  In February 1965, he joined the Maine State Police and following graduation from the academy at Camp Keyes in Augusta was assigned to the Greater Bangor area, primarily patrolling I-95.  Donald was chosen Trooper of the Year in 1985 and retired in 1990.  He then went to work for the Maine Publicity Bureau as the first manager of the newly opened Tourist Information Centers on I-95 in Hampden.

In 1980, he became one of the first members of a Secular Discalced Carmelite Community formed by Sr. Margaret Dorgan in Ellsworth.  Donald attended daily Mass and was a Eucharistic Minister for over 40 years, distributing Holy Communion in church and to the home-bound.  After his mother’s death in 1995, he was a hospice volunteer for six years with St. Joseph Home Health and Hospice in Bangor, eventually serving as their bereavement coordinator.  He received the Mother Angela Award in 1999.  Donald was an Altar Server at funerals and daily Mass.  He loved spending time with Claudette, their two children, and six grandchildren.  He enjoyed woodworking and photography.

Donald is survived by wife Claudette; son Philip and wife Jacqueline of Brewer, and their children Benjamin and Matthew; daughter Kathleen and husband Timothy Mitchell of Ann Arbor, MI, and their children Scott, Jordan, Mary, and Luke; sister Elaine Campbell of Winslow; brother Charles and wife Janet of Lake Wales, FL; many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Family and friends are invited to visit 5-8 PM Monday, August 6, 2018, at Kiley & Foley Funeral Service, 69 State St., Brewer.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 AM, Tuesday, August 7, at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 768 Ohio St., Bangor.  A private burial for family will follow the Mass at Mt. Pleasant Catholic Cemetery.  The family will join everyone at the church hall for a reception that will begin after Mass. 

Messages and memories may be shared with the family at kileyandfoley.com