Date de Décès: 2009-03-02
Date de Parution: 2009-03-06
Source: Ebitiaries.ca
Mrs. Donna Sue Hollister-Smith August 6, 1944 - March 2, 2009 64, of Mineville, passed away suddenly at home on March 2, 2009. Born in Wills Point, Tex., she was the daughter of the late Fred Hollister and Maxine (Hollister) (Blasingame) Lester. Upon graduation from Wills Point High School, Donna attended Baylor University and joined the U.S. Navy where she met her husband John. After their wedding, she moved to Dartmouth where she was a teacher at Caledonia Junior High School before starting her family. Upon seeing her own children through public school, she joined them at university, returning to Dalhousie Law School and graduating at age 50. Donna practiced family law with great compassion for six years. In life she balanced family ties spread over many miles. She commuted to provide loving support to her mother in Tyler, Tex., through her mother's lengthy terminal illness, while also supporting her growing family at home. Family was the most important aspect of her life, and seeing her grandson William arrive five weeks early on February 8, 2009, was a blessing. Family always knew that they could depend on her, as she was on call for many last minute visits to support her loving granddaughters, Madeline and Julia. Donna had a zest for life and a compassion for the human spirit that was witnessed by anyone who came in contact with her. She thrived on lively discussion, while being a great listener and an empathetic soul, usually over a glass of wine. Donna's love for life could also be seen in her passion for organic gardening, as she and Kathy had a steady date every Saturday morning, taking care of the natural world around us, while maintaining her own soul in the fellowship she shared with Kathy. She was a tireless supporter of Orenda Canoe Club, Dalhousie Legal Aid, The Stephen F. Lewis Foundation - Grandmothers to Grandmothers, and Adult Literacy. Donna also touched lives around the world, as she, along with nine other girlfriends started a chapter of Grandmothers to Grandmothers, under the umbrella of the Stephen F. Lewis Foundation to benefit those in Africa affected by AIDS. She loved to travel as she and John shared many memories together with close friends while traveling to every corner of the earth, most recently enjoying a trip to South Africa. Donna is survived by her husband of 39 years, John; son, Scott (Sarah); daughter, Lindsay (Eric) Munroe; grandchildren, Madeline and Julia Smith, Amy, Leisa and William Munroe; mother-in-law, Elizabeth Smith; aunts, Gladys Folmar and Alice Hines of Texas; extended Texas family, including Richard and Mary Tekell, along with Martha, Jon and Angela Tekell, Stephen and Lisa Tekell, and Amy Tekell. She was predeceased by her parents; stepfather, Jack Lester; father-in-law, Cecil Smith. Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 4 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. in Atlantic Funeral Home, 771 Main St., Dartmouth, where a funeral service will be held on Thursday at 2 p.m. with a reception to follow in the funeral home reception centre. In lieu of flowers, donations in Donna's memory may be made to The Stephen F. Lewis Foundation - Grandmothers to Grandmothers: www.stephenlewisfoundation.org. On-line condolences may be made by visiting: www.atlanticfuneralhomes.com