Donna J. Groff

MEMORIAL SERVICE: 10 AM July 15, 2023 at Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 2100 North Davis Drive, Arlington, TX 76012.

MEMORIALS: In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be made to the American Heart Association or Saint Maria Goretti Catholic School.

Donna was born March 7, 1933 in Pocahontas, Iowa, the ninth and youngest child of Peter and Margaret (Neu) Mart. She grew up on a farm in a family that loved and celebrated music. Donna was an accomplished pianist and sang in choirs almost all her life. Donna graduated valedictorian from Sacred Heart High School in Pocahontas. In 1950 she attended Saint Joseph Mercy School of Nursing in Sioux City, Iowa. She graduated and passed the Iowa State Board of Nurses exam in 1953. On September 26, 1953, she married her high school sweetheart, Arthur Groff. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Texas where he began his engineering career at Chance Vought Aircraft (LTV). Donna began her employment as a night nurse in the delivery room at Methodist Hospital. She went on to be Dr. Moody’s office nurse and then became the industrial nurse at Proctor & Gamble Manufacturing Company. In 1963, she moved to Utica, Michigan with her husband and oldest daughter Laura. In Michigan, their family expanded to five children and while there, many wonderful memories, and friendships were made. She spent the next 14 years in Michigan raising their children. Donna was an excellent cook and avid seamstress, sewing and designing most of the family’s clothes as well as costumes for Halloween, school plays, her daughter Jane’s Cinderella gown and swimsuits for a synchronized swim team in which her daughter Laura was a star performer.

In 1977, the family was transferred back to Texas where Donna was employed as a school nurse at Saint Maria Goretti Catholic School and the Arlington Independent School District. She took a job at American Airlines allowing her family the ability travel and see the world. Art & Donna loved to travel and planned many trips to exotic places together. Her family was maturing and eventually all five children graduated from Texas A&M University. Donna eventually retired from American Airlines in 1995. In retirement, Donna continued enjoying her hobbies and traveling the world with her husband, Art. She was very proud of her latest achievement which was a cookbook including recipes from throughout her life that she able to share with friends and family.

Donna was a devoted family woman who always put her children first. She was active in her church, Most Blessed Sacrament, her entire life serving on various committees and singing in the choir. Her greatest joy was her children and grandchildren. She especially enjoyed annual lake trips with family and Foley Beach vacations with the Groff brothers and sisters-in-law. Holidays were always special with Christmas highlighted by Donna’s cooking and singing Christmas carols around the piano with the family.

Donna is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 69 years, Arthur (d. 2023), her father and mother, brothers Vince, Harold, George, Willard and sisters Georgine and Lorraine. She is survived by daughter Laura Wolf and husband Joe, son Doug Groff and wife Cyndie, daughter Kathy Belew and husband Marshall, son Greg Groff and wife Leslie, daughter Jane Gough and husband Chris. Ten grandchildren, Ryan (and wife Maya), Gavin, Lauren, Zach, Jonah, Kyle, Madeline (and fiancé Blake), Julia, Grace and Lilian. Brothers Walter Mart and sister Eileen Dagit.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.moore-funeralhome.com for the Groff family.