It is with sadness of heart that we announce the passing of our dear mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend Donna Mae Burte. Following a long and very courageous battle with cancer, Donna slipped her earthly bonds and went on to Glory, on Tuesday, Dec. 14 at the Glace Bay Hospital at the age of 75. She was a woman with a heart of gold, always willing to help out anyone who needed it. They say that children are the best judge of character and they loved her almost as much as she loved them. She was known as one of the “play ladies” due to her volunteer work entertaining and visiting children while in hospital. Her grandkids and great grandkids were also beneficiaries of her love of children and she never missed an opportunity to shower them with love. She also had a strong faith and was an involved member of Newsom United Church, singing in the choir and participating in any and all of the various fundraising activities. She loved music, nature and people watching while out at the beach or the park. Donna was an avid card player and thoroughly enjoyed her Monday night games with the girls; she was also an avid bowler playing for years with the Knox Hall team and also enjoyed playing baseball with her daughter Denise on the the Water Street Ladies Softball team.
Besides her parents, the late Freeman and Hazel (Davis) Jenkins, Donna was predeceased by her husband William and daughter Michelle as well as 2 sisters Marie and Barbara and 2 brothers Doug and Gerald. She is survived and will be sadly missed by her daughter Denise (Robert) Cann, grandchildren Samantha and Jarrett, great grandchildren Aleah and Liam and sisters Brenda (Tommy) Campbell and Elaine Caines as well as brothers Freeman (Joan) Jenkins and Eddie (Ida) Donovan and her very special friends Linda, Sheila, Sandra and Bernadette. Visitation will take place at Patten Funeral Home, 71 Union St., on Sunday, Dec. 19 from 2-4 & 7-9. Funeral Service will be held at 2pm at Newsom United Church, Dominion St., Glace Bay on Monday, Dec. 20. Interment will take place in Forest Haven Cemetery. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.pattenfuneral.com. If desired, donations in Donna’s memory may be made to either the Cancer Society or the Diabetes Association. The family would like to thank the staff of the Cancer Center, Palliative Care, the staff of Glace Bay Hospital 3W South as well as Dr. Poulis for all that they did to care for Donna and the family.
