Malvina Elise (Hamel) (Brinkmann) McCusker, 82, of Gardner was happy to return to the Lord on Friday, December 15, 2017.
Born in Gardner, Massachusetts on May 6, 1935, she was the 11th child of Margaret and Leander Hamel.
Mal grew up in Otter River, graduated from Templeton High School, and later entered religious life with The Little Sisters of the Holy Family, whose motherhouse is in Sherbrooke, Quebec.
She later opted for the nursing profession, at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, MA. Illness interrupted her schooling but she subsequently graduated at the top of her class from the Lawrence General Hospital School of Nursing in Lawrence, MA.
She married Joseph Brinkmann and together they had three children. She lived in several states, including California, Michigan, Kentucky and Connecticut.
After being a Registered Nurse for many years, she returned to school and graduated Cum Laude from Western Connecticut State University and became a registered Medical Technologist. She loved all aspects of science and specialized in hematology at Mid-State Medical Center laboratory in Meriden, CT for 12 years before retiring in 1999 and returning to Gardner.
Mal was a member of the former Sacred Heart of Jesus Church of Gardner, the Rosary group and the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the former Divine Will Cenacle of Fitchburg. She was active at St. Benedict’s Abbey in Still River, MA and the Holy Trinity Monastery in Petersham. Mal was a member of the Marian Movement of Priests for Laity.
She was predeceased by her second husband, Henry McCusker, who died in 1987.
Mal leaves two sons, Kurt Brinkmann of Waterbury, CT, Kyle Brinkmann of Gardner; one daughter, Dr. Erika Brinkmann of NJ; one brother, Rene Hamel of CA; one sister, Margaret Villani of Gardner; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by four brothers, Alexis Hamel, Emile Hamel, Paul Hamel and Edgar Hamel; four sisters, Rita Moriarty, Eva Hamel, Sr. Marie Hamel and Marie Quinlisk; and her dear friend of 5 decades, Reverend Roy Devaney of Worcester.
Malvina will be remembered during the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass on January 14th at Annunciation Parish/Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, Church, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner. Burial will be with her beloved husband Henry in St. John’s Cemetery, Gardner, at a later date.
There are no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, Malvina would like friends to offer prayers and Masses for the good of her soul.
Boucher Funeral Home, Inc., 110 Nichols Street, Gardner is handling the arrangements.