Donna Lee Carr

Donna Carr (formerly Strumke/Carpinelli) aged 80, died at home asleep in her bed in Raleigh, NC on 22 October 2019. While Donna’s memory had been failing, she was blessed enough to pass away peacefully in her sleep with her heart and mind still full of fond memories of her family and friends.

Donna’s life was defined by her unfailing and indomitable love of her children. No matter what her children did (and they did a lot!) Donna’s love never wavered and she stuck by and believed in them even when they didn’t believe in themselves. She was, simply put, the quintessential mother who was incapable of feeling anything but complete and total love for her children.

Donna grew up in Greensburg, PA, the youngest of nine children in a home built by her father and relatives and that was filled with love. Donna often talked about being a majorette in school followed by which she got a job as an airline stewardess. Donna lived in NYC with a number of her girlfriends, a time in her life she often spoke fondly of. For most of her profesional life Donna worked as a benefits coordinator for IBM in both White Plains, NY and Raleigh, NC.

After marrying Bill Strumke, Donna and Bill had three children, Kent, Gregg and Todd Strumke along with seven grandchildren, all of whom adored their grandmother. Donna was especially happy to welcome grandchild number six, Isabella Strumke, as after many years of trying and praying, God finally blessed her with a girl in her life who she could buy pretty things for and fawn all over.

Donna loved to travel and she especially enjoyed the nearly two weeks she spent in 2005 with Bill and Todd in Italy, her family’s ancestral homeland. Donna also enjoyed going to tango shows in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

While Donna and Bill divorced many years ago, they were only apart for a handful of years before they were brought back together and dutifully took care of each other until the very end.

Donna is survived by Bill, her children Kent, Gregg and Todd Strumke, her seven Grandchildren Glenn, Bradd, Kent Jr, Jack, Luke, Isabella and Sean Strumke as well as her lone surviving sibling, Vincent Carpinelli.

Donna is preceded in death by her parents, James and Mary and siblings Kay, Richard, Joseph, Theresa, Rose, Ernie and Nick.

While Donna will undoubtedly be welcomed in Heaven with open arms by many family and friends, foremost among them will almost certainly be her sisters Kay and Rose along with their parents, James and Mary.

A celebration of Donna’s life will be held from 11:00-1300 on 29 October at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 1701 E Millbrook Road Raleigh, NC.

Donna’s family cannot express enough their thanks and gratitude for everyone’s thoughts and prayers and we simply ask that everyone reading this take a moment to tell their parents how loved they are and how much they appreciate everything they have done for them over the years.