Donna Garrett

Donna was born on October 18, 1951 in Queens, New York to the late Ishmael and Amelia Keener. As the daughter of a Navy submarine veteran, they moved around quite a bit. She often spoke of being miserable in Washington state, where the rainy weather did not match her sunny personality. She found her place when they relocated back to the San Diego area. She made lifelong friends and fondly recalled sneaking out of the house at night to head to Imperial Beach - even after getting caught time and again. She graduated from Mar Vista High School in 1969 and very much remained a ‘California Girl’ even after moving to New York, and later North Carolina.

Music was her passion, especially The Beatles. She could sing along to anything from Frank Sinatra to Nirvana. She loved animals, flowers and gardening, and a good scary movie. While she enjoyed Christmas, Halloween was her favorite time of year and she loved decorating for it. Above all else, she loved her children and grandchildren fiercely and unconditionally.

Donna was a beautiful woman inside and out. She had the biggest heart. She lived her life without judgement and she saw the good in everyone. She was kind and compassionate, loving and nurturing, understanding and forgiving. She was funny, even when she didn’t mean to be. She left an enormous impact on the lives she touched and she will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Donna is survived by her children, Leigh Bonacum (Bryan) and Neil Garrett, her sisters Lydia Ryan (Tom) and Nanette Loscalzo (Anthony), her brother Mark Keener (Natalia), her grandchildren Brianna Keckeisen (Brian), Tyler Bonacum and Logan Bonacum, and her great grandson Harrison. We are all comforted knowing that she has been reunited with her late sister, Celeste Keener.

She will be greatly missed by her niece Alicia Aguado (Cody), nephew Anthony Loscalzo Jr and great nephew, Cole. She leaves behind her beloved godparents, Aunt Chickie (Cecilia Duncan) and Uncle Izzy (Isadore Perretti), as well as her Aunt Joanie Perretti and many, many cousins and friends.

A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, June 10, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Apex Funeral Home.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared below for the Garrett family.