Mrs. Helen Schulman McDonaugh, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, departed this life on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. Her passing leaves behind a grieving husband, two devoted children, and countless cherished memories. Born on March 8, 1942, in Brooklyn, N.Y., Helen was the treasured daughter of David and Dorothy Schulman, whose love and guidance shaped the remarkable woman she became.
Helen’s beauty was a gift that transcended the physical — a luminous presence that radiated kindness, warmth, and grace. Though she was blessed with old-Hollywood-movie-star looks, it was her inner beauty, marked by a generous heart and steadfast devotion to her family, that defined her. Her sense of style and elegance accompanied her through life, but her true worth was measured in the boundless love and care she lavished on her husband of 56 years, Don, and their children, Jim and Jennifer.
Raised in Queens, N.Y., Helen spent her formative years surrounded by the energy and vibrancy of city life. She graduated from Queens College and began her career with General Motors. It was during this time that she met her sweetheart and lifelong partner, Don McDonaugh. Their love story became a testament to enduring devotion, mutual respect, and the beauty of partnership. Together, they built a life of love, laughter, and shared dreams.
Leaving behind the hustle and bustle of urban life in 1968, they relocated to the tranquil, beautiful hamlet of Nesconset, N.Y.. They bought their first home and raised their two kids there before moving the family to the Eastern Shore of Virginia in 1989, choosing to embrace a simpler, more fulfilling way of life.
She worked for over 20 years as an administrative assistant for Accomack County Probation and Parole. In retirement, Helen and Don’s life flourished with the presence of their children and grandchildren. They passed down life lessons, nurtured with wisdom and compassion, and demonstrated the true meaning of love. Helen found delight in the simple pleasures of life — admiring flowers in bloom, the serenity of the creek, and the laughter of her family.
Helen is survived by her husband, Donagh Michael “Don” McDonaugh, of Onancock; children, James McDonaugh and his wife, Victoria, of Lindenhurst, N.Y., and Jennifer Swiatek and her husband, Joseph, of Baltimore; sister, Ruth Lipton, of Florida; grandchildren, Erin and Ryan McDonaugh, of Lindenhurst, N.Y.; sister-in-law, Kathleen Toher, of Long Island, N.Y.; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, David and Dorothy Schulman.
Funeral services were conducted from the graveside of Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Onancock on Monday, Dec. 16, at 1 p.m., with Pastor Kit Laxton officiating. There was a visitation at Williams-Onancock Funeral Home from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., prior to the graveside service.
Flowers will be accepted, or memorial donations may be made in Helen’s memory to the Accomack-Northampton Pregnancy Center, P.O. Box 123, Onley, VA 23418, https://helpwithpregnancy.org/support/
Memory tributes may be shared with the family at
www.williamsfuneralhomes.com
Arrangements were by the Williams-Onancock Funeral Home.
