Beatrice Marie Martin McDonnell

Beatrice Marie Martin McDonnell, 94, of Warrenton, passed peacefully in her home on August 5th, 2016. She moved to Warrenton in 1982 with her husband Dr. John Chilton Horner McDonnell, a native of Warrenton. Mrs. McDonnell was born Sept 15, 1921 and raised in Joliet, Illinois on a small farm in the country as an only child. Her parents were Peter Joseph Martin and Katherine Jasinck Polcyn, both excellent piano players, as was Beatrice. She attended St. Francis College in the music program on academic and music scholarships, but when war broke out, she moved to Washington DC in March 1941 to work in the War Department and serve her country. In 1943, she moved into the Cadet Nursing Corps Program and completed a BS in Nursing Education from Catholic University, graduating in 1947. She returned to Chicago to work at a County hospital and pursue an MS in nursing. While at Catholic University, Mrs. McDonnell met her future husband, Chilton McDonnell while he was completing his Bachelor's Degree. Chilton graduated in 1948 and moved to Chicago to continue courting Beatrice and undertake his MS and PHD in Organic Chemistry while working on the Manhattan Project. Mrs. McDonnell also worked on the project as a secretary to Dr. Oppenheimer, the Manhattan Project's Director, while at the War Department. Sworn to secrecy, neither knew of the other's involvement in the top-secret project until decades later. A promotion took her to to Milwaukee, WI in 1950. She later resigned the position to be married. In 1952, they were married in Joliet, Ill and lived in Chicago while Dr. McDonnell completed his PHD. The couple had their first child, Mary Byrne in 1953. The McDonnells lived in Indian Head, Maryland while Dr. McDonnell worked as an organic chemist at the Naval Ordinance Station and Mrs. McDonnell raised 4 children, three daughters and one son. They often returned to Warrenton to visit Dr. McDonnell's parents, Kitty Belt McDonnell and Austin McDonnell. In 1982, the McDonnells returned to Dr. McDonnell's boyhood home in Warrenton after his retirement. Mrs. McDonnell was a devoted member of the Franciscan Fraternity at St. John's, and spent countless hours recording the history of the families of Virginia and Warrenton. She served as founding Chairwoman of the Old Jail Museum on Main Street, supporting the Fauquier Historical Society and the Warrenton Antiquarian Society generously over the years. In her retirement, she was devoted to restoring her 1820's home on Culpeper Street. The history of our country, town, home and family was deeply important to Mrs. McDonnell. Mrs. McDonnell is survived by three daughters, Mary Byrne McDonnell of Riverhead, N.Y., Katherine Therese Belt McDonnell of Surprise, Ariz., and Barbara Ann Chilton McDonnell Walker of Springfield, Va; a son, Peter Martin McDonnell of Clinton, Md., and two grandsons, John Chilton Fitzgibbon McAuliff of Warrenton, Va., & William Byrne McDonnell McAuliff of Riverhead, N.Y. She was preceded in death by her husband Dr. John Chilton Horner McDonnell and her parents, Peter and Katherine Martin. The family will receive friends on Thursday, August 11 from 3-6 PM at Moser Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Friday, August 12 at 11:00 AM at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Warrenton. Interment alongside her husband in Bright View Cemetery will follow the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the The Sacred Heart of Jesus Fraternity of the Secular Franciscans in care of St. John's or the Fauquier Historical Society. Funeral Home: Moser Funeral Home 233 Broadview Ave Warrenton , VA US 20186