Donna Jean (McKenzie) Kaminski

Donna Jean Kaminski (McKenzie)

December 19, 1932 – March 14, 2021

Donna Jean Kaminski (nee McKenzie) of Lorain died peacefully with her family at her side on Sunday, March 14, at the age of 88 after a brief illness.

Donna was born on December 19, 1932 in Lorain to Frank and Dolly (Beachler) McKenzie. She was the last survivor of their 11 children. She graduated from Lorain High School in 1950 and married Leo D. Kaminski on June 14, 1952, remaining married until this death in 1978. She never remarried.

Donna was a widow at 45 and immediately started working until she was 75, volunteering until she was 80. She worked at Hallmark Cleaners, Lorain Products, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Lorain Community (now MercyHealth) Hospital, and continued to volunteer at Mercy after she retired.

Donna’s best asset was her huge heart and her generosity to anyone in need. Her giving was endless. She was a good dancer and loved listening to music (ranging from country to Christmas to Christian to the pop music of today). She also loved to crochet, paint ceramics and do various arts and crafts with her daughter, Vicki, coffee with her daughters and grandchildren, and just spending time with her family. She loved to crochet blankets, afghans and slippers for her family members, her friends and for charitable donation. She collected angels and snowmen. She loved to laugh and make people laugh. She loved sports, especially football, and going to Las Vegas and other casinos with her friends.

Donna was a great mother and was always there for her four daughters. She taught them strength, kindness, the gift of giving and to always remain close and stay together. She was affectionately known as “GiGi” to her immediate family.

Donna is survived by her daughters, Donna DiFilippo, Kim (Guy) Camera, and Kathi (Jim) Hofecker; son-in-law, John Gilles; 16 grandchildren, Dan (Allie) Gilles, David (Rachael) Gilles, Vikki Gilles, Katy (Rick)Moore, Vince (Kim) DiFilippo, Matt (Sarah) DiFilippo, Mike (Jill) DiFilippo, Denny (Ashley) DiFilippo, Guy (Gretchen) Camera, Lee (Melanie) Camera, Scott (Julie) Camera, Shawn (Nicole) Camera, Lindsay (Jared) Tiech, Tina (Brett) Elliott, Dax Hofecker, and Brennan Hofecker; 37 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo; daughter, Victoria Gilles; great-grandaughter, Gianna Marie Camera; parents, Dolly and Frank McKenzie; sisters, Evelyn Ilene, Odetta, Ruth, and Virginia; and brothers, Frank Jr., Robert, John and two unnamed twins at childbirth.

Due to Covid-19, funeral services for Donna will be held privately for her family members through Reidy-Scanlan-Giovannazzo Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Lorain, OH. Private Christian burial services will be held at Calvary Cemetery in Lorain, OH, Rev. Robert J. Glepko, Pastor, officiating. Online condolences may be sent using www.rsgfuneralhome.com.

Rest in peace, Mom/GiGi/Grandma/Nana! See you in Heaven!

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