Donna Hohmann Edwards

Donna Hohmann was born September 1, 1934 in Denver, Colorado. She was the daughter of Leon Jean Baptiste Hohmann and Irene Ginsberg Hohmann. Donna attended South High School, University of Colorado and received her Doctorate in Education from University of Northern Colorado.

She was a woman who embodied the idea of a renaissance person. She was an elementary teacher when she met her future husband, Rodger Ewy. Together they traveled as a photojournalist team. They traded passage on a steamer to France and traveled Europe for three years on a BMW motorcycle. They climbed mountains, rode trains, crossed oceans and took thousands and thousands of photos.

Her professional life began in St. Gobain, France with the Lamaze birth of her first child Marguerite in a hunting chateau of Henry IV. Donna and Rodger Ewy brought the Lamaze birthing process to the U.S., creating a worldwide trend of involving the family into the childbirth process. Donna wrote more than ten books, often co-authoring with her husband, Rodger. These ranged from "Preparation for Childbirth", which sold more than four million copies, to her latest book on her own life and family. Her books were sold all over the world and have been translated into many languages including French, German, Japanese, even Braille.

Donna enjoyed travel of all types. Every day up until her last she would go on long walks in the mountains surrounding her home above Boulder, Colorado. From her bedroom window she could witness the majestic beauty of the Continental Divide, and with a few steps to the kitchen she was able to overlook Boulder, Denver, and the great plains of eastern Colorado. During her life, she loved skiing, snowshoeing, mountain climbing, back packing and horseback riding. Donna was forever seeking to make the world a better place, making friends and family wherever she traveled.

In addition to her love of travel and family, she was a gourmet cook, learning early on from her aunt, Tillie Hohmann. Donna could whip up a quick Turkish and Greek dinner or a gourmet ten course French meal. Her family was always treated to a new culture each dinner.

She was an internationally renowned speaker who was in demand up until her retirement last year. She covered a wide range of topics from corporate seminars on motivation to non-profit personal awareness.

Donna was the consummate professional, ever investing in real estate, from an 1886 Longmont apartment building, to single-family homes to commercial properties. She was always able to navigate through the tough times with intelligence and plain old ethics of hard work.

Donna only recently gave up her counseling practice to spend the last year with all of those who loved her. She enjoyed this time meeting with friends and family, finishing up life long projects and preparing for her children's' future.

The last twelve years of her life were spent married to Jack Edwards. Together they traveled from such far away places as the Antarctic, Paris, Beijing, Bali and Hawaii. Donna had visited 6 continents and the world was truly her oyster.

Her most treasured memories were of her family, friends and the wonderful holidays spent together. She was a loving mother and grandmother, dedicated wife and a formidable but caring businesswoman. She opened her house freely to friends and family alike. She had a strong commitment to both her children and grandchildren, and to the extended family she formed. She had that special something that others looked up to and loved. She opened her house freely to friends and family alike.

Donna is survived by her four beloved children Marguerite Ewy-Love (Paul Love), Suzanne Ewy, Rodger Ewy (Becky Ewy), and Lee Ewy, and five beloved grandchildren: Alexandra, Madeline, Samual, Rodger III, and Maximillian. She had two sisters who preceded her in death: Shirley Neidiger, Lorraine Dodsworth and is survived by her youngest sister and best friend, Leela White. She is also survived by five stepchildren, Nell, Hope, Heather, Fess and David, and fourteen step grandchildren whom she loved very much. She also left a huge number of loving friends who have been with her throughout her life.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Donna, Sunday, June 1, 2008 1:00-3:00 at 5546 Sunshine Canyon Drive 80302. Please join us.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Mom's birthing and dying foundations â Lamaze (www.lamaze.org) or Hospice (hospicecareonline.org). There will also be more information at the Celebration.

Good night Mom, sleep tight. Bon Appetit and Bon Voyage! We love you very much!