Helen D. Shedlock McDonald

1938 - 2022

Helen Donna Shedlock McDonald died unexpectedly on Jan. 1, 2022, in Davenport, Fla., at the age of 83.

Helen is survived by her son, Patrick McDonald (Nancy), Brick, N.J.; daughter, Annmarie Nicora (Scott), Tampa, Fla.; son, Andrew McDonald (Kendall), Green Cove Springs, Fla.; son, Francis McDonald (Deanna), Davenport, Fla.; brother, Joseph Shedlock (Phyllis), Long Pond; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Francis J. McDonald; daughter, Barbara McDonald Frazier; son-in-law, Robert Frazier; grandson, Matthew Musick; and siblings, Eleanor Shedlock, George Shedlock, Anne Shedlock, Marian Totino, Andrew Shedlock, Michael Shedlock, Dolores Haggerty, Patricia Rock, Thomas Shedlock, Florence Shovlin and Daniel Shedlock.

Helen was born Sept. 20, 1938, in Wilkes-Barre, to Andrew and Anna Matichka Shedlock. She graduated from Coughlin High School in 1956 and entered the workforce. She married Francis "Frank" McDonald, her high school sweetheart, in 1962.

They moved to New Jersey in 1965, raising five children while she worked at Toys-R-Us, and then Early Morning News. Helen enjoyed polka dancing and/or listening to polka music on the radio on any given Sunday. It was a happy day for Helen when she landed a job at Freight Traffic Services, the same company where her husband Frank worked. They commuted together for years until 1984, when they moved to Florida.

Helen worked at K-Mart for many years but always had a special love for babies and little kids, leading her to work at the St. Mary Magdalen Parish preschool in Altamonte Springs in the early 1990s.

In 1995, Helen and Frank moved to Davenport Fla., where she resided ever since. Helen's most recent job before retiring was 15 years of service as a Walt Disney World cast member. Helen spent the last 36 years watching her grandchildren grow into adults and was blessed in 2016 with her first great-grandchild.

Viewing will be held at DeGusipe Funeral Home, 9001 N. Orlando Ave., Maitland, FL 32751, Thursday starting at 9:30 a.m. A Mass will follow at noon in St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, 861 Maitland Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32701, with burial following at Orlando Memorial Gardens, 5264 Ingram Road, Apopka, FL 32703.

The family requests that donations be made to a charity of choice in lieu of flowers.