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Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel - Worcester

370 Plantation Street

Worcester, Massachusetts

Donald Cowden Obituary

Donald J. Cowden, 69

WORCESTER - Donald J. Cowden, 69, of Worcester, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 14, 2021 at Rose Monahan Hospice Residence with his daughters by his side.

Donny was born in Worcester, a son of the late Clarence and Jane (Funderburk) Cowden and lived here most of his life where he graduated from North High School, Class of 1970. He worked as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service, Worcester Branch for 29 years retiring in 2016 and was a member of the Branch 12 Letter Carrier Union. Prior to being a letter carrier, he worked as a youth counselor for the Department of Child and Family Services for 5 years. Donny was an avid collector of coins and stamps. Donny will forever be known as "One of a Kind." The most important thing to him in his life was his family especially his two daughters which he was able to spend his last few weeks with them right by his side and his grandsons who he was adoringly known as "Grampy Donny" and whom he nicknamed "B1, B2, and B3."

Donny leaves his two daughters, Katie Cowden and her fiancé Eric Bradley of Oxford and Colleen Cowden and her fiancé Donnie Watson of Holden; three grandsons, Brayden Bradley, Brock and Blake Watson; his brother, Richard Cowden and his wife Marilyn of Auburn. He will also be missed by nieces, nephews and many friends.

A period of calling hours for Donny will be held on Saturday, March 20, 2021 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm with his funeral service to immediately begin at 1:00 pm in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St., Worcester. Masks and social distancing will be mandatory in the funeral home during the services for Donny.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Worcester Telegram & Gazette from Mar. 16 to Mar. 17, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Donald Cowden

Sponsored by Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel - Worcester.

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Stephanie Major

March 7, 2023

Donnie: I'm so sorry to learn of your father in law's passing. You and your entire family are in my thoughts during this sad time.

Mike McCarthy

March 28, 2021

So sorry to hear of Donnie's passing. We met @ 12 y/o when we played baseball. My condolences to his family.

Bill Masterson

March 24, 2021

I am sorry to hear of Donnie's passing. Don and I worked together at the P.O., he was a good friend and a good person. A fun memory that popped up when thinking of Donnie is when him and I placed a bet on the Kentucky Derby. We ended up with a good win, which doesn't happen too often. May he rest in peace.

Tony Kulakusky

March 22, 2021

OMG it is so sad to see him pass. I knew him in grammar school. My wife Penny (Ciccone) and I both knew Donny so well as teenagers. He was truly a nice and caring person. Penny shared a locker with him at North High School. He was so much fun. Initially he would toss Penny’s books out of the locker, half in jest but he really didn’t want to share. They soon became friends. Love you Donny. You were such a wonderful part of our young lives.

joseph c. Kusz

March 20, 2021

My sympathies to Don's family. I was lucky to share many laughs with Don at the Post Office. He was one of the guys who always made you smile. RIP Don.

March 20, 2021

Donnie and I and my family grew up together near Channing/Westminster st. A wonderful friend and classmate at North high School Class of 1970. RIP. You will always be remembered. Janet (Ravelli) Cosgrove

patrick f murphy

March 18, 2021

iv known don cowden (DCOW) since 1987, we started the same month at the postoffice, in westborough, DCOW was a great friend to me, and loved his daughters, i still remember getting a ride to work in that old brown ford fairmont, im very sorry for your loss

Sonny price

March 18, 2021

I am so sorry to hear of your loss Donny was friend,classmate and one hell of MAN GOD BLESS

L Bishop

March 18, 2021

Katie, Colleen and Kay too,
I´m so sorry about this huge loss in all of your lives. I have nice memories of him from Francis St. Thinking of you.
Lynne Bishop

Bob Cuccaro

March 17, 2021

Rest In Peace old friend.

Katie

March 17, 2021

Love you forever Dad

Katie

March 17, 2021

Katie

March 17, 2021

Our hearts are broken Dad, we love you so much

Mike Pavone

March 17, 2021

Rest in Peace North High Classmate. You are not forgotten.

Richard T Porcaro

March 17, 2021

I spent many great work days and memorable laughs with Donnie in our years in the Worcester Post Office. Rest in Peace Donnie.

Dave Beams

March 17, 2021

Donny and I were friends working at the P.O. I delivered to his home in Greendale often and he did the same for me in Worc. We shared an interest in sports card collecting. He was really a great guy and my condolences go to his family.

Dan Pasquale

March 17, 2021

As growing up an attending the same schools, had lots of great times with Donny . May God Bless you and your family at this time. Till We Meet again

Terrence Doherty

March 17, 2021

My most Sincere Condolences on Donny’s Passing. I also 1st met Donny when we both lived on Channing Street and spent most of our time at the Lincoln Square Boys Club. Being a little older we looked up to him and his peers, they watched out for us. I was fortunate enough to run into Donny a few years ago and we had a chance to reminisce about ( the good old days) he will be missed. R.I.P. my friend

Ben Tamburro

March 16, 2021

Rip Don you gave me so many laughs and memories...a great man!

March 16, 2021

So very sorry Katie and colleen. My heart brakes for you. Love you.

Curry DiPilato

March 16, 2021

First met Donny in the early 60's at the Boys Club. He always looked out for us younger guys and did so as well in high school. I had the pleasure of working at the Post Office with Donny too. He always had a smile & a kind word. He will be sorely missed to those who knew him. Many condolences and compasssions to both his family & friends

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Memorial Events
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Mar

20

Calling hours

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL

370 Plantation St., Worcester, MA

Mar

20

Funeral service

1:00 p.m.

MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL

370 Plantation St., Worcester, MA

Funeral services provided by:

Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel - Worcester

370 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605

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