Born and raised in Witless Bay, Newfoundland, Canada, she was the daughter of the late Peter Joseph Norris and Anne (Hearn) Norris. Donna attended the Presentation Convent School and went on to study at the St. John’s General Hospital School of Nursing from which she graduated in 1954 and went on to work at the Waterford Psychiatric Hospital in St. John’s, until 1956. Donna left Newfoundland in 1956 to stay with her sister in Brooklyn, New York, with Ruth, a friend from nursing school, to work at New York City Hospital. In 1958, Donna and Ruth came to the Cape to work at Cape Cod Hospital for the summer and were introduced to their future husbands, who were brothers, by a fellow nurse, Betty Hodsdon. They were both married in 1960.
Donna was known as an exceptional registered nurse, going above and beyond, renowned by her colleagues and considered incredibly compassionate by her patients and their families. Donna remained working at Cape Cod Hospital for 10 years, before transitioning to private duty, while raising her four children. Donna held supervisory positions at numerous nursing homes, being well respected for the quality of care and high expectations, she had both of herself and others. Donna was nominated twice as the Massachusetts Nurse of the Year, winning it once. Donna retired at 72 years old.
Family was at the forefront of Donna’s life, and nothing pleased her more than doting on her grandchildren. She loved cooking and baking, hosting memorable events for the holidays and spending quality time with her family, speaking to her four children daily. Donna found joy being in nature on Cape Cod, such as gardening and feeding the birds, being particularly fond of hummingbirds. Donna enjoyed reading as a favorite past time and sitting outside with her beloved Dave, enjoying a meal, a glass of wine, or an afternoon cup of tea. Donna and Dave walked hand-in hand, regularly on the Dennis beaches, sharing special fond memories, at Crowes Pasture. Donna is already greatly missed by so many.
In addition to her husband of over 65 years, she was pre-deceased by her son David Sears Hodsdon, II and her siblings Ambrose, Josephine, Philip, Peter, Mary, and Florence.
Donna was the devoted mother of Bruce Norris Hodsdon of Dennis, Deanne Hodsdon Tolley and her husband Erik of Yarmouthport, and Lisa Norris Hodsdon Peirce of South Yarmouth; cherished grandmother of David Sears Hodsdon, III and his fiancée Kate, Sarah Cooper and her husband Nate, Dylan Hodsdon and his wife Rachel, Halle Stringfield and her husband Conor, Caleb Tolley and his fiancée Jordyn, Declan Tolley, and Taylor Peirce, and great-grandmother of Logan, Sawyer, and Leon, as well as aunt to many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 10 AM at Our Lady of the Cape Catholic Church, 468 Stony Brook Rd, Brewster. Burial will follow at Quivet Neck Cemetery, South Street, in East Dennis.
The Hodsdon family requests that you consider a donation in Donna’s memory to the Cape Cod Alzheimer’s Family Support Center, 2095 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631.
