Donna Newberry-Fields

An indomitable spirit, she was fiercely independent and strong willed, always living life on her own terms. Her iron will was tempered with a generous heart, always ready to provide for family and friends. She loved to sit and visit, share a pot of coffee and a home cooked meal, and her warm kitchen was often filled with family, stories, music and laughter. Her pickled beets, salad dressing, stuffed mangoes, meatloaf and spaghetti sauce are treasured recipes.

Donna graduated from Mansfield Beauty College as a licensed cosmetologist in 1953 and would retain an active license her entire life. She was the owner of the Band Box Beauty Salon at Third and Walnut in downtown Mansfield for a number of years. Eventually she returned to school earning her GED and Teaching Certificate from Kent State and taught Cosmetology at Madison Comprehensive High School for 20 years.

Her love and loyalty for family and friends knew no bounds. Surviving are her husband, Jesse Fields of Lexington, OH; daughters, Rhonda (Steven) Hile of Findlay, OH, and Darla (Richard) Saville of North Bend, WA; son, Todd (Jodi) Newberry of Lexington, OH; grandchildren, Stefanie (Brady), Richard, Ryan, Sarah, Elizabeth, Julia, and Alex; sisters, Sandy, Carol, Marguerite, and brothers; LaVerne, Robert, Gary, Donald and Ronald.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents Elmer Norris and Loea Shoe-Norris, her brother Leroy, her sisters Ailane, Audrey, and Midge, her first husband Donald E. Newberry, and her foster sister Barbara Kotsanos.

Family and friends are invited to call on Thursday, December 18, 2014 from 9-10 a.m. at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 100 S. Lexington Springmill Rd., Mansfield, OH 44906. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. at the funeral home, conducted by Rev. Chris Thomas. Burial will follow at Bethesda Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Domestic Shelter for Abused Women and Children, P.O. Box 1524, Mansfield, OH 44901. Donna was a member of Daughters of Herman, VFW Auxiliary #9943, and Order of Eastern Star of Bellville Chapter 29.