Donna Speirs

Old Lyme — Donna Reynolds Speirs, 102, of Saunders Hollow Road, died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023 at her residence with her family by her side. Donna was born in Lyme March 2, 1920, the daughter of Donald and Kathryn (Harding) Reynolds.

After graduating from Pratt High School in Essex, she went on to study at Morse Business School in Hartford. She then worked for the Selective Service Board in Old Lyme. She married Malcolm Speirs Oct. 4, 1943. After living in Cleveland, Ohio, while Malcolm worked as an aeronautical test engineer for the U.S. Air Force Reserve, they returned to Old Lyme where she lived for the rest of her life.

She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and homemaker. She enjoyed gardening and was very artistic doing many different crafts. She had a wonderful sense of humor and attitude, famously offering, “we’ll see,” when presented with a new plan or idea. Donna loved being on the water and enjoyed boating. As a girl, she spent many afternoons sailing her Herreshoff sailboat on the Connecticut River. For many years, she and Malcolm enjoyed cruising, first on the “At Last,” then, the “Escape” and finally, the “Velvet Turtle,” their Grand Banks trawler. They cruised from Maine to Florida. In later years, they also used an RV for trips to Florida, and the western United States.

Donna suffered from multiple sclerosis for 55 years, but still lived life to the fullest with grace, dignity and courage. She was a long time member of the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, the Hamburg Cove Yacht Club and was an active member of the Lyme - Old Lyme Senior Center.

For the past eleven and a half years her live-in caregiver, Lali Kursua, provided extraordinary care with compassion in Donna’s home. The family would like to express our deep appreciation for Lali’s service during this time.

Donna is survived by her daughter Gail (Ron) Jewell; son David (Ginny) Speirs; grandchildren: Michael (Lori) Speirs, Andrew (Stephanie) Speirs, Matthew (Jessica) Jewell and Jonathan (Nichole) Jewell; as well as nine great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her beloved husband of 67 years Malcolm; two sisters; and one brother.

A Celebration of her Life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, in First Congregational Church, 2 Ferry Road, Old Lyme. Please visit www.fultontherouxoldlyme.com for tributes and directions. Donna spent many hours reading books from Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library. Donations may be made in her memory to the library.