It is fitting that Donna Elias died on the 4th of July. The 4th was one of her favorite holidays, and she especially looked forward to the fireworks. She loved taking her grandchildren to see the fireworks; her face would light up with each bombastic boom! and explosive, blooming flower of light. Her enthusiasm for the holiday come directly from her father, an immigrant from Sicily who deeply loved his adopted country. Donna and her 13 siblings did, too.
Donna was passionate about many things: painting, sculpture, photography, traveling, Roman Catholicism, her family. Her husband, Leonard, learned to enjoy Donna's quick-march expeditions to all parts of the world.
Donna was born into a very large, Italian-Mexican family, with California roots going back to the 1830s. Being No. 13 out of 14 sons and daughters, she did a lot of niece-nephew childcare and yearned for the wide-open spaces. Her great dream was to become an airplane pilot. While she never realized that goal, she made up for it with frequent overseas trips.
She was thrilled with the birth of each grandchild; Donna treasured their lives, shared wonderful holidays, and was an awesome gift-giver. She was an excellent cook and hostess. She loved large family gatherings, and everyone learned to enjoy a panoply of international foods.
So we celebrate Donna's life, and we miss her. We take great comfort in our memories, and know that she shares in life eternal with her husband and her family of origin.
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