Donna Derwin Maggio

Donna Maggio, (also well known as 'Mommy Donna', 'The Donna' or 'Cuddles'), 64, of Conway, SC and formerly of Plymouth, PA, ended her long struggle with early onset Alzheimer’s disease on what she always called ‘the poor Santa’s Christmas’, January 7th. She was truly exceptional, leaving behind more love, warmth and humor than one would think was humanly possible. The Angels got a good one in her.

Donna was born in Plymouth, PA, daughter of the late John and Gloria Turpac Derwin, who, along with her younger brother Danny Derwin, preceded her in death.

She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Suffolk University in Boston and had completed her graduate academic CPA requirements with highest honor. More importantly, at core, she had the ability to be instantly loved and memorable to all she met. That included the many, many strangers who would just walk up to her and tell her their life’s tribulations and stories, and come away smiling, a stranger no more. She loved to read, write and act and her voice could be ever so cute, serious, or filled with humor, - she had won the National Voice of Democracy with the reading of a poem she wrote, and people often comment on how beautiful her stories in the book Reflections of the Heart were. A short story, ‘For Everything Else there’s EBay’ still makes people laugh.

These gifts of hers have also caused much sorrow in her passing, and even greater sadness in seeing the grace she showed in living with the disease and smiling throughout.

Donna will be greatly missed by her loving husband of 44 years, Raymond “Ray” Maggio; 2 sons, Matthew and Luke; Bailey, her ever so loyal Golden Retriever, brother, John Derwin; 3 sisters, Marlene (husband Richard) Brazill, twin sisters, Linda (husband James) Farmer and Lisa (husband Christopher) Moyes; and sister-in-law, Nancy Derwin – as well as bunches of nieces, nephews, cousins, uncles, aunts and hundreds of friends & acquaintances.

A private ceremony of faith, remembrance and spirituality is planned at the home she grew up in. Please know, we do not intend or wish to eliminate anyone from the ceremony but we simply cannot afford to rent the Super Dome.

In lieu of flowers, kindly make a donation in Donna’s name to your local Alzheimer’s Association or the national chapter at www.alz.org/donate. It’s such a terrible disease. It robs us of people like Donna every day. There are no survivors, we must find a cure.

A guestbook is available at www.leefhandcrematory.

Lee Funeral Home & Crematory of Little River/North Myrtle Beach is serving the family.