Donelda A. Garner, earned her wings to heaven on Thursday, April 26 at the age of 81. She is predeceased by her parents, Joseph J. and Donelda C. Garner of Roseville, Michigan. Her family and friends knew her as Donna, the eldest of 12 children. She is pre deceased by her siblings: Joseph John Garner, Mary Joyce Garner, Mary Delores (DeNault) Healy, and Cheryl Therese Johns. Donna's surviving siblings are her sister Nancy (Denault) Panther, brother Franklin (and Linda) Garner, brother Frederick (and Rose Anne) Garner, sister Gloria (and Leander) Kienzle, sister Rosemary Garner, sister Lorraine (and Steve) Kaminski, sister Roberta Garner and countless nieces and nephews.
Donna graduated from St. Mary's Mt. Clemens in 1955. She worked at Burton Abstract for a short time before she was employed by Ford New Holland in Accounting. This was the perfect job for her because she was known for ledgering even her most frugal purchases. Ford was a very successful lifetime career for her until she retired.
Anyone that knew Donna knew of her love for flowers! Inheriting her grandfather's passion, no plant was sacred from a "plucked start." She could grow anything from a cutting, a seedling, and even from just a shake of a dried specimen. Donna was a member of Sacred Heart Church in Roseville for years and was active in the Altar Society, the Ski Club, and the Young Adults Club.
She later built a house in White Lake Township with her sisters Joyce and Rosemary. She also owned and shared a beautiful cottage on Lake Pleasant which became the family hang out for years. She tried her hand at playing the organ, but "Schroeder" was no virtuoso. She could knit and crochet and just about every family member owns a pair of her slippers.
She was the family matriarch, devout in her Catholic faith and was known to "bail out" those in financial need. She was strong in her beliefs but quiet in a crowd. She was loved by many and will be profoundly missed, but truly heaven is celebrating to welcome her home.
Visitation will be held Monday, April 30, 2018 from 4:00pm until 8:00pm (Scripture Rosary 7:00pm) at the Highland Chapel of the Elton Black & Son Funeral Home, 3295 E. Highland Road, Highland. Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 11:00am (In State 10:00am) at Church of the Holy Spirit, 3700 Harvey Lake Road, Highland. Burial will be held Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 12:00pm at Sacred Heart Cemetery, 18430 Utica Road, Roseville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen. Share a memory at www.eltonblackandsonhighland.com
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