Donna Jean Danna

Donna Jean Danna Rouse , a woman who was instrumental in the education, care and tooth extraction of thousands of children, died August 27th. She was born on August 25, 1954 in Pasadena, Texas. Donna was 66.

She began working with students with intellectual disabilities when she was in high school at Sam Rayburn, where she graduated in 1972. That same year, she married her sweetheart Joe Danna and was a proud law enforcement wife, they had two daughters. She went on to co-found, with her cousin-in-law Mary Moratto, the first after-school program at St. Ambrose Catholic School and spent decades as a kindergarten assistant at several schools including Briargrove Elementary, St. Rose of Lima and St. Michael. She was most fulfilled when she was surrounded by children.

In 2008, she and Joe were honored to be called to step in as guardians of two month old Kailey Rose, eventually becoming adoptive and loving parents starting a new chapter that would enrich the lives of the entire Danna family.

Next to raising her daughters and working with children, her greatest passion in life was pulling their teeth. Well, that and having the greenest thumb in all of Jersey Village. But back to the teeth. There wasn’t a loose tooth she didn’t want to extract. She found such satisfaction in the whole process; pulling a loose tooth, giving children their tooth in a tiny plastic treasure chest, even wearing a Tooth Fairy Costume.

“All kids loved her, our house was a revolving door of friends. She made everyone feel like they were her favorite, no matter what age. She became a second mom to so many of our friends,” her daughter Jill said.

When her older daughters were school-aged, she happily welcomed Forest Pines neighborhood kids into her home, offering a snack from the bucket on top of fridge, a Hot Pocket, a Clearly Canadian and turned on Kids Incorporated. In 2003, the Danna family relocated to Jersey Village, where friends and family dubbed her house The Danna Hotel, a place where you could check out, but never truly leave.

“Mom was a proud honorary mother to many of my friends who have relocated to Houston from out of state—insisting they join us for Holidays, helping them move out of houses, even rescuing them from a flat tire on the side of the road,” said her daughter, Monica.

But before Mrs. Danna is canonized for all of her good deeds with children, her friends want it known that she was irreverent. Fun. Hilarious. The kind of friend that makes you laugh until you cry. The kind of friend that you could trust with your secrets and shenanigans.

She went on an annual trip with the Getaway Girls, who were a group of mothers from St. Rose of Lima with whom she stayed friends with for decades. Their favorite destination being Whispering Pines Ranch in Grapeland, Texas, where at their latest trip earlier this year, they poured wet cement and each Girl put their hands in it for posterity.

She never went to bed without reading a book. An avid reader, she couldn’t wait for the paperback editions, she had to have the newly-released hardback editions. It’s possible she single-handedly kept Barnes and Noble in business all these years between her book and puzzle buying. You could always find a puzzle in progress on her dining room table, a hobby she passed down to grandsons Beau and River.

She and her lifelong best friend, Pam Allen, met on Suiter Way in Pasadena, Texas when they were 2 years old. God made sure they had one last hoorah together. The week before Mrs. Danna’s death, Pam stayed at The Danna Hotel the night before an appointment in Houston, likely redecorating one of the rooms at the Danna house. Mrs. Danna’s daughter Monica, son-in-law and grandson stayed with her in preparation of Hurricane Laura, where their beloved “DD” spent her last perfect day on earth, swimming, doing a puzzle, and playing with her grandson.

Though her death was sudden, the end of her life was what everyone hopes for…surrounded by family and friends at home.

She is preceded in death by her parents Earl and Jean Rouse, and little sister Sandra who died at age 4. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Joe Danna and her daughters Kailey Danna, 12; Monica Danna, 41, her husband Joey Garcia, their son River Garcia, 4; Jill King, 38, her husband Matt, and their sons Matthew, 21, Jacob, 16 and Beau, 7; as well as her brothers and their families; Michael, Rose and Deana Grey and her wife, Mattison; and Stephen, Celeste and Craig Rouse.

Her family is planning a private, family-only liturgy service at their parish church. In addition, details will follow for a Celebration of Donna’s Life later in 2020, where the family will welcome her many friends and extended family to celebrate her incredible life. The Danna family requests donations to the newly-formed Donna Danna Student Scholarship Fund, which will annually benefit a St. Ambrose School family in need in lieu of food and flowers. Donations can be made to the fund at www.donnadannastudentfund.org or directly to St. Ambrose School in Houston, TX.