Agnes Mary Mcdonald

Agnes Mary McDonald passed away on January 23, 2022 at the Chestnut Hill Rehab in East Longmeadow, Mass. She was born December 20, 1928, in Glastonbury, VT to Ruby (Buck) and Edward Elihu McDonald. Her mother ran a boarding house in Glastonbury for the loggers. Later the family moved to Arlington, VT where she was a long-term resident. Her father co-owned McDonald & Clark (later Salter’s IGA) there until it had to close during the depression as a result of extending too much credit. In her early years, she worked for the Bennington County Humane Society doing community education, animal rescues, and running the shelter. During that time, due to limited resources that did not cover the needs of the animals surrendered to or rescued by the shelter, many animals had to be euthanized. This difficult task fell to Agnes and she often took animals home rather than euthanize them. She was a strong advocate for responsible pet ownership and animal rights. Later she went to work at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center as a pharmacy technician becoming a registered pharmacy tech, an accomplishment that she was rightly proud and for which she was one of the first so registered in Vermont. She was a long-time member of the Arlington Grange serving as both the secretary and treasurer for many years. She could always be counted on to work their pancake breakfast fundraisers; not only working in the kitchen or on the door but making the biscuits. In 2009 she was recognized for thirty years of membership giving her fifty years of membership when she moved to Mass. She also received the Pomona Grand Award for Public Service in 2001. Agnes housesat for many local families some of whom she became very close to. She was a Deputy with Bennington County Sherriff Department and long-time member and officer with Arlington Rescue Squad for which she received a recognition award for fifteen years of service. She loved singing and sang with the a cappella group, Sweet Adelines. She was a long-time member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 69 in Arlington where she had life time membership. She also belonged to the Manchester VFW. She was an avid reader, quilter, loved word search puzzles, and playing cards with close friends. After retirement she moved to The Fields in Manchester where she had many friends and lived until she moved to Massachusetts in 2019 to be closer to her son Brian and his wife Mary who provided loving care in her final years. She lived at Heritage Woods in Agawam, Mass and later at The Wellington in Springfield, Mass where she made many new friends and enjoyed their many programs. She will be missed by the staff and residents there. She will be remembered for her kind spirit and willingness to reach out and help anyone in need. Her family will remember her for her support, love, and dedication to their well-being and upbringing. Agnes is survived by her children Nancy Kapusta of FL; Phillip (Deborah) Jennings of Rincon, GA; Jo Ann Cowan of Laconia, NH, Stephan (Laurie) Sallisky of Arlington, VT; Victoria (John) Lombardy of Manchester, VT; Donald (Phil Bluteau) Sallisky of Albany, NY; Joseph (Sharon) Sallisky of York, PA; Patricia (Craig) Schmechel of Gales Ferry, CT; Brian (Mary) Sallisky of Westfield, MA and David (Karen) Sallisky of Bristol, FL, as well as 22 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren, and 14 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two nephews, Edward and Donald Granger to whom she was especially close. She was predeceased by; brothers Robert Frashella & Edward McDonald, Jr., sisters Phyllis (McDonald) Granger, Rose (Frashella) Stupplebeen; and grand-daughter Suzanne Kapusta.