Maria (Gurreri) Macdonald-Arnold

West Springfield � Maria (Gurreri) MacDonald-Arnold, 96, passed away peacefully on January 24, 2017. She was born in New York City and was the daughter to the late Charles and Frances Gurreri. Mrs. MacDonald-Arnold was predeceased by her husband, Perry Arnold. She leaves two sons, Bruce MacDonald and his wife Donna of Belmont, MA and Robert MacDonald and his wife Joan of West Springfield, MA her grandsons and their wives, Matthew and Kimberly MacDonald of Pittsburg, PA and Jeffrey and Andrea MacDonald of Bethesda, MD, and her precious great-granddaughters, London, Fiona and Penelope MacDonald. Maria was very proud to have been born in New York City where she lived and worked in her early professional life. She would always tell new acquaintances that she was a �New Yorker�, making this pronouncement with a sparkle in her eyes. She also was very proud of her sons and their accomplishments, happy to tell friends that Bruce worked as an Educational Consultant and Robert as the Executive Director of Work Opportunity Center, Inc. Maria started her working career in New York City working for Flushing Hospital and the Hospital Equipment Corporation. She always said if she had the opportunity she would have become a nurse. Later she worked at Mount St. John�s Home and School for Boys in Deep River, CT for 29 years and retired as the Business Manager. She had an innate talent for business and at 96 years of age was still asking about how the stock market was doing and did it break 20,000. After Maria retired and moved to Conway, MA she studied and became a Master Guide at Historic Deerfield. Maria quickly became a favorite Master Guide of visitors. Going with Maria to a flea market or antique store was an educational experience. Maria could tell you a story about a table leg, foot, cabinet top or the arm of a chair. She became an accomplished historian of this time period and an engaging storyteller. She was an activist. One example is, she felt sorry for the trailer truck drivers who drove all the way up Prospect Avenue only for them to discover that the bridge to Westfield in Bear Hole was closed. She would watch these drivers painstakingly back out and turn around on the narrow avenue, so she set out to make a change. After working with the Mayor�s Office, the DPW installed a sign on the corner of Prospect and Birnie making the road open to local traffic only and informing the public that Prospect Ave. was closed one mile ahead. With this same tenacity, she had a street light installed on a pole at the end of Prospect Ave. making the area safer for all residents. Maria met all challenges with determination, tenacity and patience. Maria was an avid reader. She enjoyed watching the news, following politics and voted in the 2016 election. Maria also liked watching Court TV and would follow famous criminal cases. Maria loved to learn and was a great conversationalist and had extremely strong opinions. Maria�s favorite places to visit were Paris, France where she was complimented on her fashion sense, Hawaii and St. Kitts. Maria loved dogs and would frequently play with the puppies in pet stores. Her best pal for years was a Doberman Pinscher named Bayard who guarded Maria with his whole heart and all of his muscles. Maria was a gourmet cook and could have won the �Bake Off� every season. All her recipes contained an extra dash of love! Maria�s family would like to sincerely thank the West Springfield Police, Firefighters and Ambulance Personnel who have come to Maria�s assistance with respect, warmth, compassion and expertise. She greatly appreciated the kind treatment she always received over the last decade that she lived in West Springfield. She would say that West Springfield has the best public services anywhere. This team made Maria feel safe and that is a priceless gift to any family. There will be a Funeral Home Service Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at 12-noon, at the Toomey-O�Brien Funeral Home, 1043 Westfield St, W. Spfld. followed by burial at MA Veteran�s Memorial Cemetery. Calling hours will be Tuesday, January 31, 2017 from 5-7PM. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the wonderful Westfield Animal Shelter, 178 Apremont Way, Westfield, MA 01085 (in memo line please put �donation gift account�).