DONNA PHELAN

Donna May Francis Phelan Was born on Oct. 5, 1937 in Tonasket, Washington to Elma Nell Chartrand and Joseph Ambrose Kenneth Haney. Throughout her life, Donna was characterized by her love for her family and friends. While growing up in Okanogan Valley, Washington, she was very close with her six siblings: Mary Jane Matheson, Beverly Lanthorn, Molly Gunderson, Antonia Acock, Patrick Siegrist, and Thomas Siegrist. She married the love of her life, Robert Edward Phelan, on February 28th, 1956, a year after her graduation from Tonasket High School. The young couple moved around during the early years of their marriage, but settled in Lake Tapps in 1961, where they lived for 52 years. Together, Donna and Bob raised six children: Carolanne Kelly, Shannon, Mathew, Robert, Julie, and Tyler. Donna was a kind and gentle person who was dedicated to her husband, her children, and her community. While her children were growing up, Donna was enthusiastically involved in their school community as an active member of the PTA. She served as the director of the swim program at Dieringer School and the swim coach at Sumner High School for many years, and took pride in helping the children in the community stay safe in the water. She also swam competitively in the U.S. Masters Swim Program, an adults' competitive swim organization. She was deeply religious and devoted to her work in the Holy Family Parish, where she provided aid for the sick and elderly through her position as a pastoral minister. Donna passed away on Feb. 11, 2015 in Portland, Oregon. She is survived by her four sisters and one brother, six children, eleven grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. She was blessed with many friends in the Lake Tapps and Holy Family Parish communities. Funeral services will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church in Auburn, Washington on Saturday, February 14, 2015 at 10 am.