Eunice (Mason) Newell

Eunice (Mason) Newell died on February 1, 2023 at the age of 100. She was born on January 4, 1923 in Boston during a snowstorm. She was the youngest of three children of Dr. Nathaniel R. Mason and Eunice Ireland Mason. Dr. Mason had a medical practice in Boston. It was there that he met his wife, Eunice Ireland while administering care to her father Rasselas Ireland with illnesses from serving in the Civil War. 

Eunice Newell and her family later moved to Marblehead on Pleasant Street where Dr. Mason held his medical practice. It was there that Eunice and her family enjoyed the pastime of sailing. Eunice developed an interest in nature and crafts. She was an avid skier and enjoyed skiing in North Conway, New Hampshire where her grandparents Ellen McRoberts Mason and Mahlon Lee Mason lived. Her family had a home in North Conway as well. Her grandparents Mahlon Lee Mason and Ellen McRoberts Mason owned an inn called the Sunset Pavilion which burned down in the 1940s. A part of the inn’s property included the famous playhouse which still stands today.

Eunice graduated from Marblehead High in 1942. She studied agriculture at the University of New Hampshire (UNH); class of 1947. While standing in the cafeteria line, she met her late husband Waldron Weston Newell who served in WWII. They were married on March 29, 1947 in the UNH college chapel.  Early in their marriage, they took a road trip to Wisconsin and worked on a college study project one summer. After returning to New Hampshire, they began searching for a place to settle down and raise a family. They chose Franklin, Massachusetts; and purchased a 19-acre property on Maple Street and a Civil War era farm on Partridge Street they named called Honey Grove Farm. They operated a dairy farm for about 35 years. 

Eunice Newell had a green thumb and tended to her large vegetable garden. Canning and freezing much of the bounty. She also raised chickens and rabbits. She had numerous household pets. Her favorite was dogs; particularly English Setters. Eunice was a skilled loom weaver and member of several weavers’ guilds including the Cranberry Weavers Guild. She gave weaving demonstrations on special occasions in Franklin. In the 1970s she was a Girl Scout leader. Eunice was a member of the Captain Job Knapp Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) and had the position of Chapter Historian for several years. Both she and her husband raised honeybees and their honey was popular favorite to many of the locals. She took great pleasure in reading books. Eunice and Waldron enjoyed their retirement in later years in Douglas, MA before they became ill and lived in assisted care.  

Eunice leaves behind her three children, Waldron H. Newell and his wife, Sandra of Franklin, Ellen McGrath of Norton, and Beth Macdonald and her husband Larry of Holliston. She also leaves three grandchildren, Alicia Noel of New York, William McGrath and his wife Jamie of Taunton, and Harrison Macdonald of Holliston; one great-grandson, Jacob McGrath of Taunton; many nieces and nephews including: James Kidd and his wife Christine, of Maryland, Robert Kidd and his wife Dawn, of Maine, David Kidd and his wife Jennine of California, Nathaniel Mason and his wife Deborah, of Maine, Jonathan Mason and his wife Christine, of Maine, and David Mason and Janine of Maine, as well as many great nieces and nephews.

Eunice was predeceased by her husband of 58 years, Waldron W. Newell on February 1, 2005; her sister, Charity Adeline Kidd, and brother, Dr. Mahlon Rasselas Mason, also 3 nieces, Linda Mason Dunn, Judy Mason, and Martha Mason Whittemore.  

Eunice’s graveside funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 25th at 11am in Douglas Center Cemetery, Main St., Douglas. Weather permitting, service may be held in Douglas First Congregational Church- Please call funeral home with inquiries. 
 Donations in her memory may be made to: Dog Orphans, PO Box 767, Douglas, MA 01516. To leave a condolence message for her family please visit: www. Jackmanfuneralhomes.com

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