Donna Marie Nettleton

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Donna Marie Nettleton, announce her peaceful passing on February 1st, 2025 at Bluewater Health. She is predeceased by her parents, Nellie Marie (née White) and Raymond Isaac McKay, her siblings Helen (Delbert) Piggott, John (Edith), Catherine (Jerry) Lassaline, Mary, and James (Betty). She is survived by her husband Gerald, son David (Ellen Bruce), daughter Julie (Brandon Rawcliffe), grandaughter Mallory (Quentin Lelong) and sister Betty Wagner (Glen). She will be lovingly remembered by an extended family of cousins, nieces, nephews, and both great and great-great nieces and nephews. Donna is also remembered by the many friends and neighbours with whom great memories were made over her 87 years. 

Donna was a great animal lover, of both her own cats and the pets and animals of others. Along with husband Gerry, Donna enjoyed music and dancing, travelling within Canada, the United States and Europe, and kept active with many other pursuits including square dancing, playing cards, ten-pin bowling, carpet bowling, bird watching, golfing, exercise classes, and chair yoga. Donna and Gerry spent many memorable hours hosting and attending large and small social occasions with friends and relatives. Donna and Gerry’s famous Christmas Eve drop-in was a seasonal highlight for many generations of friends and family until 2020. She was still the consummate hostess at 82!

Born in the Petrolia hospital, Donna grew up on a farm near Oil Springs, the second youngest of seven children. Donna moved to Sarnia in her teens and lived with her cousin Joanne Smith until she met and married Gerry. She worked part and full time as a bookkeeper at many local businesses and spent many years with the Lambton Seniors Handyman Program, work she found very meaningful. Donna and Gerry lived at the same address on Grove Avenue in Sarnia for 60 years. There was rarely a time when out and about in Sarnia or environs when Donna did not run into someone she was related to or had met at work or socially. 

Donna’s sense of humour, boundless energy, and fierce competitiveness playing cards or crokinole will be missed by all. 

There will be a Celebration of Life which will be held later in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations in Donna’s memory can be made to The Sarnia Humane Society, or Pathways Health Centre for Children.

The arrangements have been entrusted to the D. J. Robb Funeral Home & Cremation Centre (102 N. Victoria St, Sarnia, ON, N7T 5W9). Memories and messages of condolence may be sent through www.djrobb.on.ca

Links for donations:       www.pathwayscentre.org           sarniahumanesociety.com