Condolences
Bill and family,
My sincere condolences on the loss of your beloved Donna.
This world is just not as wonderful without Donna in it, and at the same time it is so much better because she lived.
Donna was an inspiration to our walking group, and I'm sure to all who knew her. I will forever remember her ringing the bells in our pre-walk circle, her themes for our walks, her gratitude for nature and man's interactions with it, her history lessons, and the joy for life she coaxed out of everyone in her presence.
Her spirit will continue to walk with us.
Cheryl Perry
Life has many Blessings, and Donna was certainly a special one. She was a beautiful soul and touched the hearts of many.
A life well lived leaves a beautiful bouquet of memories, and may those memories be your comfort that will live in your heart forever. Our thoughts are with you. Bob and Eleanor Anderson. ( FLC)
I had the pleasure of working with Donna at Cadillac Fairview many years ago. She was a warm, kind, energetic and caring person. She always had a story and a smile. I always enjoyed my time with her and took something away from it. My thoughts are with her family during this time.
Cathy O'Connor
Dear Bill, Ian, Jeanine and family,
My deepest condolences on the loss of your beloved Donna.
Donna was an exceptional person. She embraced the walking group with wit, wisdom and vitality and her laughter, energy and spirit will continue to accompany us.
May your cherished memories comfort you at this very sad time.
Jane Musson
Our deep condolences to Bill, Ian, Jeanine, Earl, Oscar and Naomi!
When we remember Donna we think of someone precious and rare — one who loved deeply, sincerely, unreservedly; who lived life with elegance and style; who emanated a remarkable capacity to enjoy simple, earthy things; who sought beauty and goodness and found it everywhere; who encountered cancer and fought it with exceptional courage and determination; one whose faith was profound and deep; who was victorious in her last marathon and now delights in her new heavenly home! Donna's fragrance is everywhere, inspiring us to reach for the stars! We treasure our beautiful memories of Donna, especially the times she and Bill spent in the Yukon!
With absolute respect and eternal love, Sisters Edie & Karen
Please accept my condolences and heartfelt sympathy on the passing of Donna. I will always have fond memories of her. Although we didn’t get to spend a lot of time together, the time that we did was full of laughter, exploration and fun. She was so warm and welcoming.
May the love, prayers and support of your family and friends bring you comfort during this difficult time.
Arlene Tessier (Elder)
Dear Bill and families,
Wishing you all the comfort and peace during this time of loss….. May all the sweet memories give you all the strength to have during this difficult time. Our family has all of you in our thoughts and prayers.
Our condolences to Bill and the family. I met Donna when we hired her into Petro-Canada Centre in the early 1990’s. She brought a joy and enthusiasm to this newly created position, basically invented the job description and was a joy to work with, and improved the work environment. It was always fun to run into her years after we had both left PCC. Having just lost a sister to the same disease, and written her obit, it’s amazing to see the similarities in indefatigable spirit and positive attitude. Interesting how a horrible disease brings out such strength in these women.
Bill Moore
I remember Donna for her irrepressible spirit and drive. She wanted to qualify for the Boston Marathon with a man's time - I can't remember if she achieved that, but after many miles of pounding the pavement with her I can attest that she deserved to. I was one of the ripples in her pond, affected by her in a very positive way. Tennyson wrote, "I am a part of all that I have met" and Donna is a cherished part of me. My deepest condolences to Bill and the rest of the family.
My condolences to Donna's family and friends during this difficult time. It is sad that the world lost someone so kind and honorable, but we were all very lucky to have the time we did with her. Our whole family was saddened by this news and are thoughts and prayers are with you.
Reg Elder
There aren’t words to express what Donna meant to not only me, but every person who was blessed to meet her. She was a constant in my life and present at all my big moments... something I’ll be forever grateful for. I will miss her infectious laugh, her zest for life and her enthusiasm for pretty much anything and everything. She will be forever missed, but I hope we can do our best to carry on her love and light. Love you all so much.
Dear Bill, we were surprised and profoundly saddened to hear that Donna passed away. We will be missing her hearty laughter and persistent good spirits. She enriched our lives during her FLC walks. Our thoughts are with you and your family.
Pavla and Jiri Bartek
Bill, Ian, Janine and family, our deepest condolences at this difficult time. Donna was the bright star in the room and always made everyone fell comfortable. She was definitely a class act. Even though we haven't been in close contact over the years, she will always hold a special place in our hearts. We remember the special times our families spent together in our younger days.
Love to all, your Winnipeg friends, Kathy, Norm and family
Donna was such a fine person. Always enjoyed the visits with when visiting her Brother. Your family are in my prayers at this rime.
Tom Cobban
Bill, Ian, Janine and family
I am so sorry for your loss. Donna was the most positive, inspirational person I have ever met. I feel so blessed to have had her for a friend. We had so many wonderful chats on our walks and I will forever miss her infectious laugh. She will be in our hearts forever.
May the loss you feel today be comforted by all of the memories you have.
Doreen Corb
Bill and Family
So sorry to hear of Donna's passing.
She was one of a kind, so gracious, generous and thoughtful.
She was an inspiration to us all, with boundless energy.
I have many wonderful memories of Donna from the time just the 3 of us met at the Ranche at -20 with a foot and a half of snow, to the Birthday party dancing, or the recent virtual Birthday party that everyone enjoyed so much.
She showed us how to truly live our lives and to appreciate the beauty all around.
Donna is and will be missed.
Bob MacNeill.
Dear Bill as well as all Gibb and Elder family members:
With deepest sympathies in the loss of someone who has given you so much to remember and who will always be so very dear to your hearts.
Sincerely and with love,
Judy (widow of Terry Elder) and Christina
Edmonton, Alberta
Dear Bill and Family,
My heart was so saddened to hear of your loss.
How fortunate I feel to have had Donna enter my life when I joined the walking group on 2015. Donna was such a positive person and even if there were some of those Wednesdays that I never felt like walking, as soon as Donna arrived my energy changed with her positive and inspirational talks. She had a gift of making everyone feel welcome. As the years went by, our friendship grew and I loved my chats with her on those walks. Her leadership was exemplary.
May you find peace and gather strength from knowing how loved she was by so many of us.
With much love,
Nina Evans
To Bill and family, as well as Philip, Jean, Doug and all my cousins,
I am so sorry for your loss.
Bill, my husband Chris and I met you in 2002 when we attended Uncle Louis' funeral, and that is my most vivid memory of Donna as well. We were staying at the same hotel in Lethbridge as you were. My father (Tony in Edmonton) would often speak highly of her. His face would light up with pride as he would tell us how impressed he was that she was a marathon runner, and how kind she was too. It wasn't until we met again in 2002 that I was able to see how wonderful she was for myself. She was a warm and caring person, and that came across instantly.
Losing someone so close to you can leave a hole in your heart, and I hope in time that hole is filled with only wonderful memories.
Love to you all,
Trish Elder and Chris Szlichcinski
Bill and family, my heart goes out to you for your loss. Donna was a beautiful person inside and out. She always made me smile and thoughts of her will continue to do so.
Take care of yourselves,
Carol Serbin
Donna was an amazing leader of the walking group and an amazing person who inspired everyone who met her. I was fortunate to have gone on many of her walks as well as bike with her a few times.
Bill and family - I am so sorry for your loss. I know her spirit will always be with you as her memories will live on forever. May she Rest In Peace!
Bill, Ian, Janine & family,
I was deeply saddened to hear of your loss. I will always remember Donna for the energetic, humorous & enthusiastic way in which she lead the walking group. Her positivity & her fun loving attitude were an inspiration to all. I shall make her ‘Rainy Day’ soup with fond memories of a woman I am so privileged to have had as a friend.
Wishing you strength & peace during this very hard time.
With Love,
Bev Fogg
Bill, Ian, Janine and families, Larry and I are so sad. Our hearts go out to you. Donna was one of the brightest lights in our world and like so many we will miss her dearly. She was such a fighter against that dreaded disease. She encouraged us to find something good in every day, especially on the days we least felt like it.
The website encourages us to share a memory but how can I pick just one. Should it be the wonderful walks she lead, the bike rides we had together, buying tea in Banff or picking saskatoons? We also shared so many "grandma stories" as Oscar and Naomi were so precious to her.
Rest assured that Donna will never, ever be forgotten and in that way will remain with us always.
Phyllis and Larry
Dearest Bill and family. My heart is broken for all of you. We have lost one of the amazing, inspirational and optimistic women I have ever known. Proud to call her one of my best friend.
Donna was a very loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She was loved by everyone that ever met her, and will remain in our hearts forever.
As the leader of our walking group, she always inspired us with something to appreciate on every walk. Always rang her bells before every walk! In February this year, she came out early and walked a huge heart in the snow on the large field. She reminded us that February was “heart” month, and then we all walked around the heart. Amazingly, as 20 - 30 of us were walking the heart that she made, a helicopter passed right over our heads. I can only imagine the smiles we put on their faces. All a result of Donna’s imagination and ingenuity! It is a memory I will have forever.
I pray for you and your family Bill. I hope you will cherish the many wonderful memories. Our small walking group has mutually agreed that Donna will continue to walk with us always.
Take care, with love and hugs,
Nancy Clegg
Dear Bill and family - my heart is heavy with sorrow. I have so many fond memories of Donna starting with marathon training with the Running Room in the 1990's. She was a force to keep up with, an accomplished marathoner and runner - and I am so glad to have been part of some of those journeys. I will miss her, her zest for life, her infectious laughter and wit. You are in my thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time. Love always - Margit
We are feeling with you Bill and hoping the loving memories you & Donna created will carry you through this time of loss.
Love always,
Debra & Glenn
Dear Bill and family. My heartfelt condolences on the loss of your beautiful Donna.
Donna was and will ever be a spark of inspiration in the lives of all who knew her.
Even with the enormous health burden she carried, Donna showed us all how to navigate life with humor, strength, gratefulness, graciousness and love.
It was obvious to anyone who knew her that Donna was very bright. She had a passion for life and for learning and she was very generous in the way that she shared these passions.
I feel privileged to be part of the walking group that Donna led. I knew from the moment that I met her that she was, indeed, a very special person.
Before our walks Donna would share the history about the area and she would bring our attention to the beauty that was about to encompass us. She would then lead us in a moment of meditative gratefulness - pure inspiration!
Thank you so much Donna, my friend. I want you to know that we will always hold you in our hearts and will take you with us on every walk.
With warmest memories,
Lee Colijn
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