DONNA MARIE HEYLAND

(nee Spence) 1938 – 2025 Donna, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, died peacefully, with her family by her side on February 18, 2025, following a brief illness. Donna leaves daughter, Beth Wanlin, her partner, Les Nagy, and granddaughters, Hannah (Noah) and Grace Wanlin; son, Timothy Heyland and daughter-in-law, Jennifer Heyland, grandson, Thomas, and granddaughter, Isabel Heyland. Donna was cherished by her sister, Anne and the Wasserfall/Thompson/Raal family, Nadine, Stewart, Zack and Carmen (South Africa), Louise (Ottawa) William and Natalie (Victoria) and Dave, Sharron, Naomi, Charlotte, and Nick (California); and by her sister-in-law, Margaret Heyland, and her sons, Geoff (Lynn), Brian (Sue) and Andrew Heyland. Donna was predeceased by Bruce, her loving husband of 62 years; and her parents, Charles Ernest and Alma Vera (nee Huggett) Spence. Donna was born in Toronto on January 3, 1938. She attended Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute and Victoria College at the U of T, graduating in 1960, and turned her focus towards early childhood education. Donna loved children and a career in teaching allowed her passion for teaching reading to flourish. For Donna, family was everything. She adored her four grandchildren. She had a deep connection to the family property in Muskoka, on which her great-great grandparents settled when they immigrated from England in the late 1800's, and where her mother was born and raised. Her most favourite thing was to have the family gather at the cottage for a sing-along on the porch. She passed this love of Muskoka and the outdoors on to her children who continue the tradition. Donna kept physically active all of her life. She studied ballet from a young age and this training was evident in her deportment throughout her life. She loved to dance and was often the first on her feet at any gathering where music was played. Donna also enjoyed swimming, sailing, cross-country skiing, hiking and playing tennis. She particularly enjoyed teaching her kids and then grandkids to play tennis; something they enjoy to this day. In her retirement, she volunteered in local schools as a reading tutor and took up bridge, spending many years playing regularly with good friends, while maintaining her tennis game and yoga practice. Donna was known to her family and many friends as a vibrant and warm personality. When her husband, Bruce, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2010, Donna devoted her life to caring for him until his passing in 2023. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Donna's memory to the Alzheimer Society of Canada. A celebration of life for Donna will be held at the Heritage Funeral Centre, 50 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, Sunday, March 2, 2025, at 2 p.m.