Joe Chadbourne and Ginger at lunch, 1990s

Ginger with Cait Roberts and Mary Chadbourne

Ginger with June Warren, Mary Chadbourne, and Nancy

I met Ginger decades ago through my late husband Joe Chadbourne and Ginger’s long-time friend since teenager days, June Warren. She was a fountain of opinions on the things that mattered in this world (and the next) and was outspoken about them. Full of vitality and hard-earned life experience from earliest childhood on, she was loving, kind, hilarious, irreverent, fiercely independent, incredibly smart, an accomplished artist, a woman of deep faith, had a brilliant sense of humor, was a dear friend, and . . . was stubborn. When I told her my late husband, Joe Chadbourne, preferred “’purposeful” to “stubborn” when describing him, Ginger said, “Yes, that’s me—purposeful. Not stubborn.” Joe taught her how to drive after seeing her bicycling with Ted and Matt strapped into a kids’ two seater behind her. She and June had hilarious tales to tell about working together at a restaurant at Severance Center, two teenagers who, when put together, would combust like a hilarious chemical experiment, creating chaos at the “hot shop.” Ginger and I sat through her chemo sessions and talked for hours about her mother’s early death from breast cancer, her father’s dry cleaning business, the years in the orphanage with her siblings, and her life with husband, Gary Donaldson, “the love of my life,” and her love of her siblings, her sons, and grandchildren. Those conversations could be a challenge. She’d change the subject mid-sentence, losing me. I finally asked her to clue me in when shifting topics: Just say, “But I digress.” She did, making it a punch line, of course, rather than a useful transition. On her bucket list was a trip to Great Inagua island, home of the world’s largest flamingo colony. Ginger beat her cancer life expectancy by dint of sheer will and electing a second round of chemotherapy. She was an amazing woman, and a dear friend. Although I miss her, she is too large and loving a personality to ever forget. She was truly a blessing. --Mary M. Chadbourne

Sending my deepest condolences to Ginger's family and friends. I will remember her kindness, honesty, wit and humor. Her deep faith made her so accepting of those in need and gave her strength in her most difficult times. She was a force to be reckoned with in all the best ways possible. Ginger was like a second Mom to me, and readily gave me advice, whether I wanted it or not. I loved her and I miss our varied conversations very much.

What a beautiful person ginger was and loved her family! I remember her always her belief in God!

I will smile whenever I think of Ginger. We pledged almost 60 years ago to keep each other in our hearts forever. So Ginger will remain in mine. Best friends forever.

We were two Pee's in a pod
And I will miss you
And love you always

Ginger there are so many memories, to many to mention here.
I'm happy that you knew how much you were and are loved.  
Love to family too.
Jim , Rhoda and family

OBITUARY

Julianne "Ginger" Marksz Donaldson

December 14, 1948 – July 3, 2024

Gattozzi & Son Funeral Home

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