Donna Gale Bywaters

Family-Placed Obituary

Donna Gale Bywaters of Georgetown, Texas, passed away at home March 26, 2004, following a long battle with emphysema. She was a fifth generation native Texan, born May 9, 1943, in Wichita Falls, Texas, the daughter of Arie Dale and Frances Ruth Chesser. She married Joseph E. Zadrozny and traveled throughout the United States and Germany as an Air Force Major's wife, having three children together. After a divorce, Donna, her son and two daughters came back home to Wichita Falls where she opened a child care business which she continued for the next twenty years in various places until retiring in the early 90's. Throughout her career, she touched the lives of hundreds of children and their families. After surviving the tornado of 1979, she moved her family to Corpus Christi, Texas, where she met her future husband Walter Bywaters. They were married August 29, 1981, with their children serving as attendants. Later the family moved to Houston, Texas, where she continued her day care business. Following Walter's retirement in 2001 they had a house built in Sun City, thus fulfilling another of Donna's dreams. However, another illness and lengthy hospital stay prevented moving right away. They finally moved, and she quickly made friends and enjoyed her new surroundings. An avid reader, Donna loved true crime and biographies. She also enjoyed hooking rugs, painting ceramics, playing dominoes and card games with family and friends. She always put others' needs before her own, especially family. Always a devoted and loving mother and having remarkable courage and foresight, always strong and determined, she was called the ``poster child' by Dr. Chandrasekhar in Kindred Hospital in Houston - for getting off the ventilator and used her as an example to others struggling to get off. She became ill again, but rallied to be at her youngest daughter's wedding in November 2002, and rallied again to see her first granddaughter Lara in August 2003. She is survived by her husband; son, Joseph and daughter-in-law, Daniela, and granddaughter, Lara Zadrozny of Shenyang, China; daughter, Jill Zadrozny of Chicago, IL; daughter, Jennifer and son-in-law, Steve Nevins, Clear Lake, Texas; aunt and uncle, Norma and Robert Barnett, Crosby, TX. A family mass will take place at St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Clear Lake City, TX. A private Inurnment will take place at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Lung Association. The family is particularly grateful to the medical professionals who helped care for Donna throughout her illness, especially Drs. Sathianathan, Cain, Iyer, Macksoud, Chandrasekhar, Petitt, Marietta, Falvo and the nurses and staff at Clear Lake Regional, Kindred, Georgetown, North Austin Medical, Accord Homecare and Lone Star Hospice.