A. Sophie (Delekta) Donovan, 86, of Groveland, died Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at her home, surrounded by her loving family.

Daughter of the late Michel and Michalena (Kopech) Delekta, she graduated in 1943 from Groveland High School and worked as a young woman in a hat factory to be able to afford furthering her education. She enrolled at Emmanuel College, Boston and received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1948 and found employment as a chemist at New England Spectrochemical Laboratory in Ipswich.

Mrs. Donovan later received her Master's Degree from Salem State College and first worked in education as a substitute teacher and later worked as a teacher for over twenty years at Sacred Hearts School in Bradford.

A native and lifelong resident of Groveland, Mrs. Donovan and her husband established a Christmas tree farm on their property that they have maintained forover thirtyyears.

Mrs. Donovan was devoted to her family throughout her life. She cared for her elderly and infirm parents for many years and helped to support some of her relatives in her parents' native Poland. She will be remembered as a kind and loving woman by her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as her extended family in Poland and the generations of children that she educated at Sacred Hearts School.

A member of Saint John the Baptist Parish of Haverhill, she enjoyed gardening, blueberry picking, Irish music, and cooking, especially Polish foods.

She is survived by her loving husband of sixty-one years, Charles J. Donovan, sons and daughters-in-law, Charles J. "Chuck" Donovan of Groveland, Michael J. and Ann Donovan of Groveland, and Daniel J. and Gail Donovan of Amesbury, two daughters and son-in-law, Ann E. Yedkois of Palm Harbor, Florida, and Mary F. and David Sayers of New Ipswich, NH, ten grandchildren, Michael J. Donovan, Jr., Sarah M. Marcoux, Krystn Cinelli, David Cinelli, Jeremy Yedkois, Jenny Yedkois, Brandon Donovan, Darren Donovan, David Sayers, and Kelly E. Sayers, two great-grandchildren, Lily and Molly Donovan, and several nieces and nephews and cousins.

Relatives and friends may call on Sunday April 29, 2012 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Berube-Comeau Funeral Home, 47 Broadway, Route 97, Haverhill. Her funeral will be held on Monday at 10:45 a.m. from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial at 12 o'clock Noon in Saint John the Baptist Church, Lincoln Avenue, Haverhill. Burial will follow in Saint Patrick Cemetery, Haverhill.