DONNA CATHERINE DOUGLAS WATTS

(née Paisley) June 28, 1930 - January 23, 2025 Wife of Ronald Lampman Watts, C.C. (deceased). Eldest child of James Ross Paisley and Alixe Paisley of Windsor, Ontario. Sister to Arden Collins (Robert Alexander Collins, deceased) and Hugh Paisley (Joan Dixon). Predeceased by her brothers, Ian Paisley (Judith Austin, deceased) and Keith Paisley (Carol McIntyre). Survived by her brother-in-law, Hugh Watts (Sharon); her sisters-in-law, Margaret Webb (Stephen) and Barbara Sibbald (John); and by 22 nieces and nephews. Donna was raised primarily in Windsor, Ontario, and educated at the Hon. WC Kennedy Collegiate where, in her senior year, she was the president of the student council ("The Forum"). She was a graduate of the University of Toronto (Trinity College), where she met her husband, Ronald, thanks to a blind date arranged by his sister, Barbara. She and Ronald married in 1954 in Oxford, England. Over the course of their 61 year marriage, they travelled the world, eventually visiting every continent. A dedicated teacher throughout her life, Donna taught in Oxford, Switzerland, Canberra and Japan. They settled in Kingston in 1955, where Donna taught high school history for over 30 years at Queen Elizabeth Collegiate and Vocational Institute and Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute (KCVI). Her effectiveness as a history teacher was enhanced by her extensive travels with Ronald, and her students were heard to say that "Mrs. Watts has been everywhere… twice!" Donna was a devoted supporter of Queen's University and of the City of Kingston, establishing scholarships at Queen's in support of the Institute of Intergovernmental Relations (in memory of Ronald) and in her own name to support KCVI graduates studying history in the Faculty of Arts and Science. She served on the boards of the Kingston Public Library and the Marine Museum of the Atlantic. In her "spare" time she enjoyed sailing, skiing, swimming, tennis, cycling, and squash. Several of Donna's nieces and nephews attended Queen's, where she was like a second mother to them. Her kindness and generosity knew no bounds. Latterly, Donna was a resident at Providence Manor in Kingston, and the family wish to express its appreciation for the kind and attentive care which she received there. Cremation has taken place, and private interment will take place next to her husband in the Queen's University section at Cataraqui Cemetery at a later date. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the University Club, 168 Stuart Street, Kingston. Arrangements are entrusted with the Robert J. Reid and Sons Funeral Home, Kingston, ON (613-548-7973).