Donna Rolley Black

Donna Jeanne Black, 70 years old, died on Sunday, June 12th, at her home in Cape Coral, Florida. Donna battled lung cancer, with the utmost grace, for six years and fought to the bitter end. Her Faith in God, her will to live, and the love and support from her friends and family carried her through the last difficult months of her disease.

Donna was born on April 12, 1946 in Cumberland, Maryland. She was the daughter of Donald Herman Rolley and June Rolley.

In her early childhood she grew up with her parents in Cumberland, Maryland and remembers summers with her grandmother - eating homemade buckwheat pancakes, drinking freshly delivered milk, and picking blackberries . When she lived in Salisbury, Maryland as a child, she remembers trips to Ocean City – three times a week, riding her bike, girl scout camp, and water skiing.

Donna attended Loyola University in New Orleans for a year and then Secretarial School in Washington, D.C. She married at the age of 23 in 1970. She loved being a homemaker for over 20 years and took great pride in running her household. Her favorite house was the farmhouse in West Grove, Pennsylvania where she raised her three children. She went back to work when she was in her 40’s. She was most proud of her 18 years of work as a Social Director at the Green Hill Yacht and Country Club in Quantico, Maryland.

Donna was a true lover of life. She was an avid reader, and was a huge John F. Kennedy fan. She loved the Beatles and all the music from the 60’s and 70’s. Donna loved history and current events. She so much wanted to live until November to see who would win the 2016 presidential election. She enjoyed food, especially anything sweet including chocolate and lemon meringue pie. Watching movies was a favorite pastime especially scary movies as a child and romantic comedies as an adult. Donna was a loyal friend and had many good friends. One of her favorite past times was spending time with friends whether it was at a restaurant or sharing a bottle of wine. She loved to travel. She would often talk about driving to the Bunkley Reunions and stopping to sight see, with her family, during the trip there and back. Some other favorite travelling memories were: The Smokey Mountains, St. Augustine, Charleston, San Francisco, a road trip with Sil to California and stopping to see the Grand Canyon, a cruise to the Caribbean, and visiting New England where she saw hump back whales.

Donna is survived by her younger brother Keith Rolley and his wife Gini Rolley; her oldest son Adam Black and his wife Karolyn Black; her daughter Caroline Toadvine and her husband Mathew Toadvine; and her youngest son Andrew Black. She is survived by four grandchildren including: Madeline Jeanne Toadvine, Jackson Edward Toadvine, Emma Grace Black, and Cadence Marye Garrison. She also leaves behind many close relatives and friends.

A Catholic Mass will be held on Friday, June 17th at 10:30 at our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, 12175 Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia, FL 33922. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting that memorial contributions in Donna Black’s name be made to the American Cancer Society.