Obituary of Donna Norene Trevithick

Peacefully at home surrounded by her children and grandchildren and husband on Friday, January 5, 2018, Donna Trevithick of London in her 81st year. Beloved wife of Dr. John Trevithick. Loving mother of Scott and Dianne Trevithick and Colleen and Chris Sutton. Dear daughter of the late Lawrence Copeland (1961) and the late Blanche Copeland (1988). Loving Grandmother of Elise and Benjamin Trevithick and Cassandra and Arianna Sutton. Dear sister of Ombra and Murray May, and Murray Copeland. Predeceased by her brother, Murray Copeland (2010). Donna will be sadly missed by many nieces, nephews, family and friends. Donna was born on September 21, 1937 in the farm house at R.R. 6 St Mary’s Ontario in Blanshard Township. She graduated from Woodham Public School, St Marys District Collegiate Institute and London Teacher’s College and obtained a Master’s Degree in administration from UWO. Donna taught all the grades from 1 to 8 for the London Board of Education. At age 24, she was appointed the youngest female vice principal for the London Board. She was one of the first three women to be chosen. She was a successful teacher and vice-principal with all of her students who had tremendous respect for her. While raising her children Scott and Colleen, she developed a nursery school and taught 5 children at her home in London, Ontario. She returned to teaching in 1981 and served on a committee to write the Primary Science Curriculum for the London Board. In 1988 her classroom was designated as a demonstration room for Whole Language in which several teachers JK-6 came to observe. She became a member of the Whole Language Committee for the London Board between 1988 and 1995 when she wrote and published Mrs. T Series Whole Language books using animal themes. She sold them to school boards across Canada and the Armed Forces in Germany. She wrote JK to grade 6 science curriculum for Collier MacMillan Publishing Company. Donna obtained her specialist in Special Education and Visual Arts. Her church work at New St. James and Metropolitan Church included teaching high school students, developing a library, becoming a church elder, a board manager, and a Stephen Minister. Donna’s hobbies included reading historical novels, drawing and painting landscapes and seascapes as well as animals using acrylics and oils. She made many craft items of needlepoint and cross-stitch. Gardening became a favourite pastime. She was very proud of her flower gardens. After retirement Donna continued her hobbies and decided to board UWO students and foreign students learning English. Eventually they would become sufficiently fluent to attend university. Family was extremely important for Donna. She loved to purchase clothes and storybooks for her granddaughters and grandson. In 2008, Donna was diagnosed with Chronic Renal Failure and started dialysis, a treatment which gave her back her life. She felt cold while having dialysis so she started knitting Afghans for the other patients. The nurses and PSA got some from her too. Her disciplined approach to the dialysis diet really paid off as she was able to drop from 3 treatments per week to 2. She followed her diet closely and exercised each day. Her positive attitude to life helped her to accept her illness. She counselled a lot of patients and made many friends as a result. Donna wanted everyone to succeed and go as far as they possibly could in life. She hoped she touched everyone’s life in a positive way. Her motto was "If you’re not learning, you’re not living." Donna had travelled all over the world with John. She enjoyed being a world traveler with husband John, seeing many countries. Her favourite place to visit was the condo theyowned in Maui, Hawaii. Friends will be received at Metropolitan United Church 468 Wellington St. on Saturday, January 13, 2018 from 9:30-11 a.m. Funeral service will be held at Metropolitan United Church on Saturday, January 13, 2018, at 11 a.m. Spring internment will take place at Kirkton Union Cemetery. Kirkton, Ontario. Arrangements entrusted to Logan Funeral Home 371 Dundas St. (between Waterloo and Colborne St.) Friends who wish to make a memorial donation are asked to consider the Kidney Foundation or the Metropolitan United Church Foundation (519 432 7189). Online condolences can be expressed at www.loganfh.ca Services: Service Date Saturday, January 13, 2018 Service Time 11:00 a.m. Service Location Metropolitan United Church 468 Wellington St. Visitation Saturday, January 13, 2018 Visitation Time 9:30-11:00 am Visitation Location Metropolitan United Church 468 Wellington St. Burial Location Kirkton Union Cemetery Requested Charity Kidnay Foundation or Metropolitan United Church Foundation