Lana Sue McDonell

Lana McDonell passed away surrounded by loved ones on August 12, 2024, just two weeks before her 76th birthday. Born in Castro Valley, CA on August 25, 1948, Lana was the eldest of six children born to Francis and Eileen Williams. Lana is survived by her husband of 56 years, Robert McDonell, her sons Ryan (Michelle) and Sean (Gigi), her eight grandchildren, Rob, Will, James, Wyatt, Jack, Madeline, Ben, and Tommy, and her siblings Jan, Claudia, Leslie, Guy, and Stacy.

Lana spent her childhood in Oakland and then San Leandro, CA, as a dedicated and loving sister and cousin in a small 3-bedroom house. In 1962, as a freshman at St. Elizabeth’s High School in the Bay Area, her best friend Yvonne introduced her to Robert McDonell, who became her high school sweetheart, then husband and partner for the rest of her life. Together they moved around California, where she supported Bob’s career in law enforcement from Mountain View to Corte Madera, then San Clemente and Woodland, before they settled in Orange County in 1993.

Though she did not often speak of it, in 1977, at the age of 29, Lana was diagnosed with breast cancer. After a year of aggressive treatment and stoic determination, she became a cancer survivor, though the worry of recurrence never disappeared. Told that her cancer would make starting a family risky and difficult, Lana and Bob were thrilled when she became pregnant. Ryan was born in 1981, followed by Sean in 1985.

Lana was dedicated to family and home and found a sense of community everywhere she went. She was a regular volunteer at school, excellent facilitator of school projects, early-morning and late-evening chauffeur to and from swim and water polo practices, and constant source of encouragement and support for Ryan and Sean in school and life. For Bob, she provided an astute and compassionate perspective in his work matters, always there to offer advice and never afraid to openly and honestly speak her mind. She was Bob’s constant companion in community and work events. They enjoyed warm sun and ocean breezes after moving to Laguna Niguel, and eventually Lana and Bob joined Saddleback Church, where she volunteered regularly and attended a number of Bible study small groups as her faith grew.

After Bob’s retirement, Lana enjoyed traveling with Bob, adventuring all over the world, and taking frequent trips to the Bay Area to visit family, especially her mother. Family was everything to her, with regular holiday traditions and routines established and maintained for decades - annual anniversaries with Bob in Carmel, trips to Kauai, Thanksgivings on the pier in San Clemente, and Christmases with extended family in the Bay Area. Lana loved to be surrounded by family and friends, enjoying good food and conversation together.

Recently, Lana battled a series of extensive health issues. Any one of these issues may have been enough to bring a person down, but through these challenges, her faith, her strength, her determination, and her humor persisted.

Lana was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, niece, and friend. We take solace that she is at peace, and she will be missed tremendously.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 7th, 2024 at 9:30 am at Saddleback Church Rancho Capistrano, 29251 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano.