Xavier Owen McDonnell

East Harwich - Xavier Owen McDonnell of East Harwich, formerly of New York City, and devoted husband of Rita Anne McDonnell (deceased), died at his home Wednesday, August 4, 2021. He was 91. Xavier was born January 27, 1930, in Bronx, New York. The son of Irish immigrants, Edward (Ned) McDonnell and Rose Slowey, Xavier was the third of four children and the firstborn in the United States. He is pre-deceased by his sisters, Alma Muellen and Josephine McDonnell, and is survived by his brother, Owen McDonnell. Xavier attended Bronx public schools until he left to help support his family. He was 15 when he met the love of his life, Rita Anne McDonnell, who was 13 and lived in an adjacent apartment building. He served in the U.S. Navy Submarines and was honorably discharged in 1948, when his father died and he returned home to help support his mother. Xavier and Rita married in New York City on November 25, 1949, and together they had eight children. Christine McDonnell Haas (John), Deborah McDonnell (deceased), Elizabeth McDonnell, Xavier K. McDonnell (DQ), James McDonnell (Janet), Peter McDonnell (Olga), Meaghan McDonnell (Alan), and Maura McDonnell (Mino). He is also survived by 22 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Xavier was a self-made man. With an eighth-grade education, he was a successful businessman and the founder of McDonnell Hotel Furnishings, a Cape Cod business he started in 1984. The business was incorporated as McDonnell Paint & Wallcoverings in 1999 and is currently owned and operated by his son, Peter McDonnell. Xavier played on the Harwich Senior Championship baseball league which was a great source of pride and joy for him. He was also a member of Holy Trinity Parish. Xavier will be waked at home on Thursday, August 5. Private funeral services will be held graveside at Island Pond Cemetery in Harwich.