Donna Lee Jarzyna

Donna Lee Jarzyna, loving wife, amazing mother, and grandmother peacefully left this world on Tuesday May 16th 11 days before her 76th birthday. Friends and family will gather to celebrate her life at East Lawn Palms Mortuary (5801 E. Grant Rd, Tucson, AZ) on Saturday Sept 16th at 11:00 A.M.

Donna was born with her twin sister Cheri Lee Bradshaw on May 27, 1947, in Tillamook Oregon to parents Warren G. Christensen and Clara Fern Christensen who preceded her in death. She and her sister spent many happy days with her cousins (Reggie and company) at Grannie’s beach house in Rockaway Oregon and countless others with her mother’s family in Tenaha, TX. After moving to Mesa, AZ in middle school she and Cheri quickly made friends with Patti Dillard and have remained so ever since. Donna graduated with a Bachelor of Science in nursing and later a master's in nursing from the University of Arizona. Donna was well respected in the nursing community and a national leader and educator in pain management which included trips around the country as a lecturer on the subject.

​ Donna leaves behind the love of her life, husband Mark Jarzyna, with whom she spent 26 of the happiest years of her life and shared many an adventure hand in hand, her eldest son John Dickinson his wife Robbin and their children Finn and Evelyn, her youngest son Mark Dickinson and grandson Grant Dickinson. Donna also leaves behind her twin sister and best friend Cheri Bradshaw who together took the prize for the world's worst secret keepers. Donna’s life and love touched the people she left behind with memories of kindness and patience that will always be missed. We will mourn the loss of your guidance and wisdom. We will miss walking on the beaches, collecting sand dollars and watching mysteries with you. Every cardinal that visits will remind us of sitting on your porch and visiting. Each time the grandfather clock chimes we will know you are smiling down on us from heaven and steering us towards safety.

​ You’ve been a wife, mother, grandmother, and best friend. Your absence has left a hole in our lives that will leave us lost without you. Travel safely and find happiness in your journey and until we see you again, we love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck.