Donna L Van Houten

Donna L. Van Houten - 75 of Phoenix, AZ passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday October 10, 2021. She was born in Holy Cross, Kentucky, and raised in Louisville by John & Pauline Lawless and their extended family. Donna met her beloved husband John H. Van Houten II in Kentucky, and they moved to Arizona in 1970 where they made a home with their children Tom & Joy. Once her kids were in school Donna decided to also go back to school first at Phoenix Community College then Arizona State University to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and received her RN license in 1983. She worked as an RN at the Phoenix Veteran's Hospital and Phoenix St. Luke's for many years while working towards her Master's Degree at ASU. There she found her true calling as a Nursing Instructor for Arizona State University (5 years) and then for Gateway Community College (20+ years). Summers were spent traveling with her husband both overseas and then across the USA in their RV. Some of their favorite places included, France, the Netherlands, Hawaii, Alaska, Wisconsin, and New Orleans. Donna retired from teaching nursing in 2013 and became a full-time grandmother to Victoria, Johnathan, and William. She had a love of reading, dance, and the arts as well as a lifelong pursuit of learning and excellence in nursing that will be reflected for years to come in the lives she affected and the students she taught.

A Celebration of Life will be held outside on Saturday October 30th at 1:00pm at 1717 W. Mandalay in Phoenix. Please bring your favorite Donna stories to share. Colorful casual dress is encouraged.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to her favorite charities:

HALO Animal Rescue

https://www.halorescue.org/tributes-memorials

Gateway Community College

https://www.gatewaycc.edu/giving/greatest-needs