Donna dedicated her professional life to serving others as a special education teacher, bringing patience, care, and purpose to work that asked for all three. She was a member of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church and also gave her time in service as a former board of trustee member of Metairie Park Country Day School, reflecting a lifelong commitment to education and to the institutions that shape young lives.
Those who knew Donna knew how fully she valued connection. She loved people, and her family, especially her grandchildren, that meant the world to her. She also loved the ballet, the visual arts, and politics, interests that spoke to an engaged mind and an appreciation for both beauty and the world beyond her immediate circle.
Donna is survived by her daughters, Dana Casselli Simon (Robert Collins) and Marin Elise Casselli (Darren Murphy); her sister, Debra Courtney (Richard Courtney); and her grandchildren, Savannah Grace Simon, Caelen Kyler Murphy, and Emerson Grace Murphy. She is also survived by her niece, Lauren Courtney Mastio (Stewart Mastio), and her nephew, Matthew Courtney (Katie Courtney).
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 11AM-12PM, at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 315 Ridgelake Dr, Metairie, LA 70001. A funeral service will follow at 12PM. Donna will be laid to eternal rest at Metairie Cemetery.
