Donna Mae Weiss

Donna was born on March 19, 1945. She had a very difficult childhood but because of her strength, courage, spunk, and tenacity, she not only survived, but created for herself and her family lives full of love, healing, and courage. In 1975, she met the love of her life, Jim, at a bar in Cleveland where he was the bartender. 49 years of marriage later, they still were as in love as the first day they met. Family was everything to Donna. She proudly raised and cherished her seven children, as well as helping to raise and care for numerous grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, each of whom brought her pride, joy, laughter, and most of all, love. She became mom to so many people who were not her biological children as well because of her great compassion and care. And she also had a special place in her heart for her dogs and never hesitated to take in any stray creature that crossed her path.

Donna was known for her playfulness, her strength, her tenacity and her sense of humor. A strong matriarch, she was able to transform the adversity of her childhood and young adulthood into compassion, care and humor, not only for her own family but for all of those in need, including helping other women who found themselves in abusive situations.

Donna was a woman of many talents and interests: she crocheted, had a passion for Christmas decorating, was an accomplished cake decorator, and also a wonderful cook and baker of everything else from Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to her amazing Mexican wedding cookies and monster cookies. Donna also enjoyed gambling, thrifting, and playing bingo at the VFW with her husband, Jim. More than all of this, Donna was a faith-filled person, deeply devoted to her church community and to living out her Catholic faith in all ways.

Donna is survived by her loving husband of 49 years, James, as well as her children Melody (Justin) Ballard, David (Barbara) Louttit, Katie (Phil) Jordan, Christy Ridout, Betty (Aaron) Current, Donna (Seth) Bunin, 20 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Esther and Lawrence Scott, her brother Lawrence Scott, her sister, Betty Luke, and her son, Thomas Louttit.

Her generosity, strength, love, humor and playfulness live on in her family and friends who will always keep her close in their hearts and who will continue to live out her legacy through their own service, generosity and close family ties.

Donations in Donna’s memory may be made to La Casa in Howell or to the Huron Valley Humane Society.

No public services are being held at this time.