Monday, August 28, 2023
My condolences to Matthew, Tori, Joyce, Benjamin, Richard and family.
I worked with Donna in the same unit for 17 years. What I know for certain is that family was everything to her. Her life was full of adventures with her children, parents, brother and delightful grandchildren.
When I started working with Donna, her lunch hour would be spent driving home, making lunch for the kids and then driving back to work. Every year I would see her children's pictures on her desk change as they grew older and she grew prouder. As her children got older and more independent, we became lunch (and sometimes dinner) buddies. We would talk about everything. No topic was off limits. Donna was more than a co-worker to me, she was a friend, a confidant, and was such a compassionate and emotionally strong person (except when attending weddings and watching chick flicks). We became each others sounding board and we knew we could both depend on each other for support.
Personally, I have never met a more extroverted person, She would literally have a "gab fest" with anyone about everything and anything. She always put everyone else's needs above her own. HER needs and wants were not a priority.to her. She started everyday at work with a big smile and would enter the unit with two diet cokes (avid coke drinker). Sometimes she would already have had one before coming to work and would replenish her stock at lunch time! (I believe the Coca Cola Company will notice a depreciation in their sales very shortly).I never knew Donna to be in a bad mood, although if she was quiet, you knew something was wrong or bothering her.
These past few years we weren't able to see each other as often (due to pandemic and surgery), but we were still in contact on the 25th of every month to catch up on what was happening in each of our lives. It was a running joke that I would always remind her on the 25th how far or close we were to Christmas. Donna and I shared a lot of good times over the 17 years and I have always felt lucky that she was my friend. I will remember her fondly for the rest of my life. I will miss you, my dear friend; when we meet again, remember to save me a diet coke.
Bev Hughes
