She is survived by her beloved husband, George Herbert Schudel; sister, Barbara Washburn; brother, Alan (Rita) Wood; her children, Steven (Gina) Bopp, Larry (Laura Cacchiloi) Bopp, and John (Patty) Bopp; her grandchildren: Charles (Natalie Dang) Bopp, Joshua (Calla) Bopp, Cara (Chris) McEwan, and Lauren Bopp; along with great-grandchildren: Gracelyn, Carson, and Caylee. She is also survived by her stepchildren, Robert (Mary) Schudel, Stephen (Danuta) Schudel, Teri (Joseph) Vieira, Michael (Donna) Schudel and Melody Schudel; step-grandchildren: Benjamin, Gregory (Jennifer), Matthew (Brittany), Daniel, Daniela, Eluis, Ava, and Aiden; step-great-grandchildren: Levi, Ethan, Caleb, Orion, and Leo; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Donna was predeceased by her parents, Roy & Frances Wood, and the father of her children, Marvin Bopp.
Donna was born in Brockport. She was the middle child of three siblings. She attended Barnard Elementary in Greece, Irondequoit High School ad Brockport State Teachers College. Donna was always an active person. She loved sports and was a leader.
While in high school, she was an exchange student in Mexico City, Mexico and remained friends throughout her life with her fellow exchange student Amanda Friedman. She enjoyed tutoring Spanish speaking children in reading and loved singing songs in Spanish at every opportunity.
While in college she met Marvin Bopp, who was a cook at the college. She was drawn to his blue eyes. They were married and had three children together; Steve, Larry and John. She enjoyed family activities such as camping, traveling the east coast, square dancing and holiday gatherings.
Her career was in the Dept of Recreation in the city of Rochester. She worked as a supervisor of several centers. Donna served youth and senior adult citizens, planning and running events. She loved to teach embroidery, ceramics and other crafts. She loved her job. She was respected by her piers and the community she served. Being fluent in Spanish was an added benefit during this time. She also became lifelong friends with her supervisor.
After retiring she and Marvin moved to North Carolina. From there, she moved to Florida.
Once in Florida, she reconnected with George, whom she hadn’t seen since childhood. They fell in love and were married. They honeymooned in Europe, visiting several countries. Donna loved telling everyone that she “married the paperboy”, as George delivered papers to her childhood home. After a few years, they decided to return to the north country to live out their lives. They lived in a retirement community town home where Donna was again active in their recreation center with crafts and poker, writing the monthly newsletter, as well as helping to plan other activities for the retirees.
Once their health declined, they moved to separate rooms at Monroe Community Hospital. She enjoyed her time there, setting her room up to be her “new home”. Often the hospital personnel would comment on how cozy and homy it looked. She met many new friends during her stay. She attended the monthly resident council meetings faithfully, always willing to share her thoughts and opinions. She absolutely loved her social activities! She would go outside daily when the weather permitted, and chatted with “the boys”, a small group of men who sat outside often. She played poker weekly and always kept the other players on their toes. She spearheaded a euchre club that met two days a week. She did ceramics and even got George to attend that class. She became very good friends with her roommate Ruth Nash, and got her involved with all her activities! She even got her floor to start eating lunch together in the dining room on her floor, something that hadn’t been done since covid.
She was truly an amazing woman and will be greatly missed.
Relatives and friends may call on Tuesday, August 27, from 4-7PM at the Alvah Halloran & Son Funeral Home, 2125 Chili Ave. Rochester, NY 14624.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Donna's memory may be made to National Wildlife Federation, https://support.nwf.org/page/58590/donate/1
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