Donna Marie Evans

Donna was born in Edmonton Alberta on January 8, 1937, and was the eldest child of parents John Paul Wallin of Norway, and Martha Wallin (nee Schienbein) of Edmonton. From the youngest age Donna took to the piano like a duck to water, competing in all the annual spring music festivals, and succeeding well enough to earn entry to the University of Toronto Bachelor of Music program at the age of 17. Conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra was her dream, but raising a family and teaching music became her lifelong pursuit and joy.

In 1974, Donna answered the call to come and teach in the Halifax Board of Education’s Music Department, under the direction of Chalmers Doane. She joined a passionate and talented group of musicians/teachers in delivering the best in music education not only to the students in the schools during the day, but to adult students, from lawyers to electricians, at their evening classes. At the same time, she began teaching piano privately at home, training a growing group of young musicians. In 1983, she retired from teaching in the schools and concentrated on her private teaching. She also worked concurrently with the Canadian conservatory of Music, and became the Director of “Musical Friends”, a program developing the latent musical abilities of preschool children.

Teaching young people music was really her most rewarding life’s work. Her motto was “To teach is to love”. It started at age 16 when she would jump on a bus in Edmonton at 8 on a Saturday morning, bound for the town of Leduc about an hour away, and there she would teach the younger students on behalf of her piano teacher, in order to pay for her own lesson at the end of the day. And it ended 73 years later with Donna teaching a group which included 3 of her own great grandchildren! But teaching took a backseat to gardening when summer would arrive. Summer months would be filled with her tending her vegetable plots, flowers and fruit trees. Suppers would be pushed back til after 9, and the days would come to a close with her “boys of summer”, the Toronto Blue Jays, taking to the baseball diamond on TV. And memorable trips all over the Maritimes cheering on son Chris’ baseball exploits!

Donna was a member of St. Matthew’s United Church in Halifax, and will be greatly missed by all her friends in the congregation and choir.

Donna is survived by Ross, her loving husband of 50 years, their son Chris (Erica), 4 children from her first marriage; Danielle LaPointe (John, deceased), of Fredericton; Michele Meredith ( Doug) of Hudson Quebec; Ingrid Pierson (Kevin), of Picton, Ont; John Charles Tousignan (Angela) , of Port Colborne, Ont., and first husband, Charles LaPointe of Port Colborne. She is also survived by her wonderful western Canada family: sisters Rita Ellis (Malcolm) of Whiterock BC; Bonnie Matheson (Ed) of Edmonton; Cheryl Sullivan of Vancouver; Kelly (Norm) of Cranbrook BC; and brothers John (Andrea) of Kelowna BC; Ken of Edmonton; and Bruce (deceased); and the many nephews and nieces in Alberta and B. Donna is survived by many grandchildren; Robert (Meghan); Nathan (Nancy); Michael; Rebecca (Anthony); Rachel (Jeremy); John (Tara); William and Jeremy; Jamie (Alexis); David (Gabie) and Dan; Justin, Garnet and Evan; Tessa; Skylar and Jaylan; And most recently by the addition of 20 great grandchildren to the ever expanding family tree! Donna was predeceased by her parents John and Martha, her brother Bruce; son Andre, and daughter Heidi.

Visitation will take place at St. Matthew’s United Church at 1749 Barrington St., Halifax, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 14/2026, followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. conducted by Rev. Judith Perry. A reception will follow the service in the church hall. Cremation has taken place, and interment will take place at a later date.

Donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, or a charity of your choosing.