Walter J. Wordell, 88

Feb 25, 2020
Walter J. Wordell, 88, of Mattapoisett passed away at home on Saturday, Feb. 22. He was the husband of the late Mary (McKay) Wordell, with whom he shared 48 years of marriage. 
 
He was born and raised in Westport, the son of the late Harold O. and Dorris E. (Macomber) Wordell.
 
Walter was a graduate of Westport High School and New Bedford Institute of Textiles and Technology. 
 
He enjoyed a long career in the textile industry in New York City, working for Celanese Fibers Marketing Company, J.P Stevens and Co., and the Forstmann Co.
 
Walter and Mary raised their family in Ossining, New York. Walter was very active in his church, St. Augustine, serving as a commentator and on the parish council.
 
After retiring, Mary and Walter moved to Mattapoisett, where the two had met at the Mattapoisett Town Wharf square dancing in the early 1950’s, and where the family had a summer home.
 
Walter was a communicant of St. Anthony’s Church, a member of the Machacam Club, and a weather watcher for WQRC in Hyannis. 
 
He is survived by his four daughters, Paula M. Spengeman and husband Peter of Verplack, New York, Susan M. Rodriguez of Peekskill, New York, Mary Elizabeth Rock and husband Michael of Raleigh, North Carolina, Julie A. Ford and husband Philip of Carmel, New York; his son, David and wife Sarah of Fairhaven; 12 grandchildren, Peter, Stephanie, Alfonso, Alyssa, Nicholas, Jesse, Matthew, Katherine, Nathaniel, Angelica, Amanda, and Drew; two great-granddaughters, Bailey and Isabella; and his companion, Barbara J. Brownell. 
 
Walter was predeceased by his brother Richard Wordell and sister Arline Tripp.
 
His funeral will be held on Saturday, Feb. 29 at 9 a.m. from the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Rt. 6, Mattapoisett, followed by his funeral mass at St. Joseph's Church in Fairhaven at 10 a.m. Visiting hours will be on Friday, Feb. 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. Burial will follow in the St. Anthony’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Carolina’s Raleigh Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Angelica’s Angels at 7101 Creedmoor Rd. Suite 130, Raleigh, N.C 27613, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at pancan.org, or to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at nationalmssociety.org. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.