From: H.W. Wallace Cremation & Burial Centre

H.W. Wallace Cremation & Burial Centre staff send our condolences to family and friends.

From: Ellen Mitchell
Relation: Friend

My heart goes out to all the family and friends who knew and loved Donna.

I met Donna while she was working in her beautiful garden, her little dog Jackie by her side. She was usually down on her knees weeding or standing with one hand on the shovel after moving plants around. We lived just across the street from each other, so it was easy to drop in for ginger tea and a chat. I brought her cherry pastries and she gave me bags of plums and dishes of fresh raspberries. I told her right away how much I loved her cozy home and she said she felt the same from the minute she saw it. I’m so grateful she welcomed me with such warmth.

Donna really loved my little poodle Sunny, who of course loved her right back. I couldn’t walk past Donna’s driveway without Sunny pulling to go in. If Donna was home, she’d race past her into the kitchen for treats. Donna made Sunny and Jackie ‘sundaes’ with yogurt and dried meat sprinkles. When Sunny had to go on a special diet, Donna brought over home baked cookies and dried sweet potatoes. She told me so many stories about her beloved dogs I think she loved them as much as she loved her garden.

As we got to know each other, Donna became a beloved patron of the Women’s Shelter where I work. She baked cookies, made individual flower arrangements for all the women and was always asking what we needed. When our dryer broke down, she showed up with 6 drying racks she’d miraculously found, ‘on sale.’ Another time we had a great laugh when she bought 15 umbrellas, ‘for a steal’ online. When we opened them up, the fabric fell into tiny pieces and the ribs broke off completely from the handles. Donna never wanted acknowledgement for these kindnesses, but when the women got together to make her a card filled with their gratitude for all she was doing, it made her very happy.

I’ve been missing her every day since she moved from Duncan back to Victoria. We had so many good laughs and great conversations. She was never afraid to express her opinion and although she had her share of sadness and regrets, she had a wonderful sense of humor about life and loved to laugh and have fun. She told great stories about her children and grandchildren, the places she’d lived and the friends she’d made over the years. Donna will always be an inspiration to me. ‘Just do your best and try to be kind,’ she used to say. I will always hold her in my heart with love.

From: Lauren Kent
Relation: Long time friend of 50 years

This is a lovely tribute to our dear friend Donna. She is greatly missed and leaves a hole in our hearts. With much love and wonderful memories, Lauren, Brad, Dusten and Tyson Kent.

From: Brian Campbell
Relation: she was my direct couisn, my mothers niece. Would love to be in touch with her children,,

My Dear Cousin,,We had been seperated by life,,its trails and trials,,Yet,,we spoke recently and reunited in this long journey,,You babysat my brother and I years ago and spoke of it fondly,,Fly Donna, may you rest easy and be at peace,,Love you Girl!! Forever, your Forever Gratefull Cousin Brian Campbell.

From: Sylvia Evans
Relation: a very good friend

I was a neighbor to Donna on McDonald St. My family and I knew her for a very short time as I ended up moving into Assisted Living. She was a wonderful lady with such a great sense of humor. I couldn’t drive anymore so she took me out for drives two to three times a month and gave me foot massages because of swollen feet. I wanted to show my appreciation but she wouldn’t hear of it.. My grown adult children thought she was the greatest. Always had a smile on her face always helping someone. I know that she is in heaven looking down on us with her usual big smile. She will be sorely missed by my family