Who were Alma Wahlberg's two husbands? Inside marriage with Donald Wahlberg and love story with Mark Conroy
Alma Wahlberg, also known as the matriarch of the Wahlberg family, has died aged 78. She was the mother of nine children including actor Mark Wahlberg and musician Donnie Wahlberg. The news was first shared by Mark on April 18 via a tweet that read, "My angel. Rest in peace," along with a striking photograph of his late mother.
The 'New Kids on the Block' bandmate Donnie too shared the tragic news via Twitter writing, "She was always an angel. Now she has her wings. Rest peacefully Alma. As Always, your Baby Donnie." In July 2020, he had posted a message on Instagram talking about his mother's health issues writing, "I know that so many of you have asked how my mom Alma is doing. During my visit, she didn’t remember much and was often confused, but somehow she was still Alma. She still lights up a room. She still made me smile. She’s still stubborn. And she still loves her baby Donnie. I thank you all, for your well wishes..."
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How did Alma Wahlberg die?
Alma Wahlberg was struggling with dementia for some time amongst other health issues which are believed to be the cause of her death.
Alma is survived by her husband Mark Conroy and six sons: Arthur, Paul, Jim, Robert, Donnie, Mark, and two daughters Michelle and Tracey, along with her former husband Donald Wahlberg. Their daughter Debbie died in 2003.
Alma Walhberg's husbands
Mark Conroy
Alma, a television personality, restaurateur and matriarch of the Wahlberg family began her professional career working as a bank clerk. Born on May 6, 1942, in Boston to Leone Floyd (Brisbois) and Arthur Ambrose Donnelly as Alma McPeck, she was of Irish, English, and French-Canadian ancestry.
Alma married her second husband Mark Conroy in 1984. They were seeing each other for quite some time and their love story culminated into a beautiful wedding. The couple tied the knot at a private party and in the presence of her family and close friends. Not much is known about him and he maintained a fairly low profile, however, the couple was known to lead a very happy life in their 37 years together.
Donald Wahlberg
Alma married delivery driver and an army veteran who served during the Korean War in 1965. They lived together for a couple of years and divorced in 1982 as her older children were approaching their twenties and details of what led to the end of their relationship remain sparse. He died in 2008 in Dorchester.
Donnie Wahlberg remembers Alma — 'friend, ally, warrior, angel'
Donnie was very close to Alma and always shared anecdotes about his mother via his Instagram page. He once again took to the app to share a lengthy tribute for Alma where he reflected on all the happy times they spent together. Read the full message below for Alma from his "Baby Donnie".
"For Alma 🙏🏼🕊❤️I’m so blessed to have been brought into this world by, raised by, taught by and set on my life’s path by, such an amazing woman. My mom Alma’s joy for life, love and people — combined with a pride in her humble beginnings and refusal to forget where she came from — undoubtedly shaped me into the man that I am. I’ve often said, if you like anything about me, I got it from Alma. I say that, because it’s true.
"She was, without a doubt, the most loving human being I’ve ever known. I never heard her say, or do, anything disrespectful to anyone. She was, as anybody who ever came across her knows, true blue. Like so many moms who struggled, overcame odds, made something from nothing and pulled off the impossible for their children, she never complained. She did what needed to be done, most often, with a smile. She made the best of times in the worst of times.
"That was Alma — mother, sister, daughter, grandmother, friend, ally, warrior, angel. She made no apologies for who she was, but never put herself above anyone else. She kicked our butts if we messed up, kicked anyone else’s butts if they messed with us. Taught us right, made us pay the price when we were wrong. She was the epitome of the word grace. As a young boy, she’d invite me to sing her favorite song with her (Native New Yorker by Odyssey) as she cleaned our home.
"There’s no doubt that the two of us singing into a mop stick, while disco dancing on our “sparkling” linoleum floor, helped inspire the dreamer in me — just like the dreamer in her. Her other favorite song, If I Could by Regina Belle, is the song that she danced with each of her children to, at their weddings. I surprised her at mine by having Ms Belle sing it to her. I did so because, despite the fact that my mom could do (and actually did) many of the things mentioned in that beautiful song, she still wondered if she’d done the job of being the best mother she could be.
Today, I say with tremendous certainty, and gratitude, she absolutely did. It’s time to rest peacefully, mom. I love you, miss you, thank you and will celebrate you, today and always. Forever — your Baby Donnie #RIPAlma 🙏🏼🕊❤️😢"