Obituaries

Donna Mona Gass, 80, with the Halifax morning sun streaming into the room and her son holding her hand, passed into peace at QEII Infirmary on Wednesday, November 15th, 2023.

She had suffered a brain aneurysm a week prior, which her valiant efforts could not overcome. Her family thanks the physicians and staff of the Neurosurgery ICU (5.2) and Neurosurgery IMCU (7.3) at the QEII Infirmary for their expertise and unwavering care and attention.

She was born to John and Anne Just, and raised in Manitoba with nine siblings: Bryan (Merle), Darwin (Lorraine), Doug (June), Garry (Shirley), Joycelyn (Douglas), Marcel (Myra), Owen (Theresa), Raelene (John), Ron (Gaye).

As a young wife and mother, Donna lived in Whitehorse, Yukon, before eventually settling in Nova Scotia where she spent the rest of her life. She found contentment in her cosy bungalow in Pictou.

While her children were young she worked as a telephone operator and
with an answering service. Later she spent nearly two decades at the admitting desk at the Colchester Regional Hospital in Truro, a job she enjoyed until her retirement.

Donna was an accomplished gardener, transforming her yard into a sea of colour each season. She also loved cooking, sewing, and crafts, including dollmaking, seashell art, needlepoint, and crochet.

Donna was known for being curious, chatty, warm, open, and friendly. She will be sorely missed.

She was predeceased by baby Ryan, a loss that affected her deeply her entire life, and in 2021, her long time partner Chloran MacDonald.

She is survived by her daughter Darcene Tannis, son Dale, her dearly loved grandchildren Jillian, Alex, Ryan, and Jenna, and cherished great-grandson Waylon.

The family would also like to thank her neighbours, especially Barry MacDonald for being a wonderful friend and a great help to Donna.

No funeral by Donna's wishes. The family would be pleased to learn of donations in her name to the QEII Foundation.

The family will hold a private celebration