Donna M. Corliss

Donna May Corliss, 82, of Hatfield, passed away Thursday, December 24, 2020, surrounded by her family at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.

Born in Newport, VT, she was a graduate of Lee High School in Lee, MA and went on to attend and graduate from Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital's Nursing Program at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH as a Registered Nurse.

Donna leaves a large family that was raised in Hatfield, MA including Robert Corliss of Provo, UT, Elizabeth Nieves and Mark Laprade of Holyoke, Anne and Steve Carrington of Tolland, Linda and Ralph Hansen of Paul, ID, Peter and Cora Corliss of Lake Pleasant and David and Bridget Corliss of Suffield, CT. She also leaves behind 13 grandchildren, Ashley, Nelson, Yaslin, Jason, Laura, Sara, Wade, Johnny, Andrea, Cameron, Magdalena, Lilla and Griffin, as well as nine great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Ashlynne, Brooklyn, Logan, Olivia, Liam, Calvin, Delson and Lincoln. She is survived by her brother Laurence Daniels and his wife Donna of Corsicana, TX, her sister Alicia Stewart and her wife Donna Ginga of Northampton, her brother-in-law, Everett Corliss of Dexter, NY as well as several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband of 53 years, Earl L. Corliss, her parents Celia K. and Ned N. Daniels, her brother Allen N. Daniels and sister-in-law Theta Corliss.

Donna was married to Earl, who was from West Newbury, VT in 1960. She spent her entire adult life caring for others. During the early years of their marriage, while starting a family, Donna worked in various facilities in the Newbury area of Vermont as well as New Hampshire. They eventually settled in Hadley, MA where she worked in several facilities in Hampshire County. She was there for the opening of what was the Amherst Nursing Home, she worked part time at Pioneer Valley Nursing Home in Northampton and spent over 20 years at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, many of which as a Shift Charge Nurse, working with oncology patients. Toward the end of her career at Cooley Dickinson, Donna went back to school at UMASS to earn her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, an experience she thoroughly enjoyed. Upon retirement, she became the School Nurse for the Hatfield Public School system.

Beyond her professional career and while her kids were young, Donna was involved with the Cub Scouts of America as a Den Mother for several years and the local 4-H program. She was also an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Amherst, MA. She enjoyed watching the Red Sox play year in and year out, even when she didn't approve of some of the roster moves by the team's management.

In addition to be being a warm, caring person, Donna was also very strong-willed. She was a 3-time cancer survivor and survived 3 bouts of Guillain-Barre Syndrome. She was always happy to have nurses she worked with or mentored through the years taking care of her. Through all the challenges she faced, she maintained a positive outlook and was so appreciative to her family, friends and neighbors for their love and support. Her family wishes to thank all the doctors, nurses and staff that assisted Donna at both Cooley Dickinson Hospital and the Elaine Center.

A private ceremony will be held on January 2, 2021 with a celebration of her life to be planned for later in 2021.

In lieu of flowers, Donna's family has asked that consideration be given to donations for both The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and the Northampton Survival Center.

Ahearn Funeral Home

(413)587-0044