Donna Fuss

Dear Jenny and Family,
I just heard about your loss and I am so sorry. Your mom was such a fun, wonderful woman. I have nothing but fond memories of her. She will be missed by all.

Dear Fuss Family,
Our sincere condolences. Donna was an admirable woman, loving mother, dear friend and she will clearly be missed by many. One of my fondest memories is of her on Halloween going around the neighborhood trick or treating after all the kids had finished. :-) She was a very fun lady.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the whole family.
Warmest regards,
Cindy

to the fuss family,
today, there was an editorial in the courant to name a rose in mrs. fuss's honor and that is certainly a great tribute for a very nice woman. i was her nurse on b11i and i was very saddened that i could not do more for this truly nice woman.
sincerely, jeri davis

Mike - Donna was a gracious presence in the Rose Garden and it was always such a pleasure to encounter her there. I will always think of her as I walk through the gardens. Her loss is a loss for all of us. My prayers for you and your family.

To the Fuss Family,
I was saddened to hear about your wife, mother and grandmother, Donna!
She was a sweet lady who loved life, the beauty of nature and the flowers especially the roses!
My daughter, Cynthia was in Jennifer's Class all thorough the school years in town.
Cherish the Happy Memories in your Hearts
Forever!
Warm regards and hugs,

Mike...I was so shocked and deeply saddened to learn of Donna's death. She had such a sweet and generous demeanor, and always a kind word for everyone. I'm so happy I had the opportunity to spend some time with the two of you in May.
My heart aches for you, Jenny, Sean, and Patty. All of you will continue to be be in my thoughts and prayers.
With my love and sympathy....

It was a true honor to know Donna. I will miss her dearly. My thoughts and prayers are with her, her family and those in the Rose Society.

To the Fuss family,

I was very saddened by the news of your loss. We grew up like family and my heart goes out to you all, especially you Sean, your mother was an extraordinary woman, the memories are just too long to mention.

Stay strong through Christ,

Love,
Uchenna

Mike & Family:

Donna will be missed. I remember all the school issues we worked on when our children were in school and when she was so generous with her time and energy a few years ago when we were selling a garden cruise on the Mississippi. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. We cannot be at the Memorial Service on Saturday, but you will be in our thoughts during that time. God bless you all. May your memories sustain you.

Fondly,

Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

****************RAPTURE OF ROSES**********

Webster describes "Rapture" as the '...state of being carried away with joy, love, etc., ecstasy. An expression of great joy, pleasure, etc. (rare) a carrying away or being carried away in body or spirit. (Poetic) To enrapture; fill with ecstasy...'
In most cases it begins simply, casually, almost without notice or fan-fare. For some it began as children and our first experiences were helping in the family garden or tending the roses around Grandma's house.
For others the interest in roses began gradually and each season new varieties fueled the desire to add 'just a few more' or 'try something new'.
Once you have indulged in the hobby and have had even a small amount of success, the desire to continue and to increase what you have becomes an obsession; a magnificent obsession.
No matter how much we try to deny it, or whatever we call it, interest, hobby, exercise, pleasure, or love, it can all be summed up in one word: Rapture.
There are so many facets involved, so many mediums of expression, art, photography, architecture, literature, poetry, cooking, decoration, religion and fragrance.
No matter how casual we may want to appear to others, there is still that deep-down, undeniable thrill of discovery and appreciation when we come face to face with the object of our affection and desire.
To some there is a deep-rooted feeling of the physical side when we apply our efforts and skills in the garden. Sometimes this experience borders on reverence as we feel we are one with nature and our God, whatever we perceive him or her to be.
No matter how we began or what particular direction we take, there comes a day when we find we are breathless with excitement at the prospect of spring. We spend hours pouring over catalogs or texts describing roses. We talk about them, dream about them, sing about them, plan for them, import them, share them, trade them, hybridize new varieties and even change the face of the earth to accommodate them. We indulge in expensive treatments, fertilizers, pesticides and exotic incantations and formulas all guaranteed to bring us success.
But when we are alone in our garden, admiring some new growth development, a bud showing great promise, a flower in full bloom and fragrance or the petals as they gently fall to Mother Earth, it becomes an experience that borders on a deeply religious revelation, one that affects our very basic nature. It colors our days and illuminates our nights. It projects and propels us into the future, It binds us gently to the past with pale, silken bonds, always seeking, always questing, always searching. A never-ending journey of excitement, joy and thrill of discovery.
But to whatever degree we admit our involvement with roses, in our heart of hearts we can admit to being enraptured - a state of being carried away with great joy, love or pleasure.
Working in the garden can be a deeply religious experience as one can feel the warmth of the good earth pressed beneath our knees in a continuation of life from one generation to another. That special odor of the warm, moist earth, full of promises, dreams and expectations revives a flagging spirit.
Gardening can be frolic, a joy, a crazy exhilaration that is enjoyed by the very young and remembered fondly with a tinge of longing and yearning in our twilight years.
As we stand in our gardens and marvel at the orderly progression of the season, the Rapture begins.
From the cold and quiet season of rest, spring arrives with its renewed promise of things to come. The newly formed buds swell with careless abandon. Dew sparkles and bedecks each leaf and petal with droplets more precious than diamonds, and the Rapture continues.
Then on one warm early summer afternoon when you stand entranced and transfixed before the Queen of Flowers and find that she has encircled your heart with an unbreakable bond, we realize that the Rapture is complete.
And when the day comes and we stand alone and regard our roses, thinking about that certain someone special who used to stand beside us drinking in their beauty and tears spring unbidden to our eyes, may our roses give us once more a measure of Rapture to soothe our aching heart.
May their glorious beauty restore, uplift, and strengthen us. Though grief may be the price we pay for having loved someone, our roses know that from the wintry darkness comes the renewed promise of another glorious day.
Smell the sweet fragrance of the Rapture of Roses
Touch them and feel the Rapture of Roses
Hold them close to your heart and savor the Rapture of Roses
The Rapture, The Rapture, The Rapture of Roses

Dear Mike and family:
The loss of a dear friend and mentor will be felt for a long time. Donna brought warmth and dedication to any of the rose societies she touched. I will miss her enthusiasm and beautiful smile. Take care Mike, and find comfort with your lovely children and grandchildren. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

Dear Mike and family,
We are sure the rose gardens of Heaven will bloom even lovelier now that Donna is tending their care. Our prayers to you all.

Mike, Jenny and Sean,

I was so sad to learn of your loss. Your family was the first family to welcome my family when we moved to Blooomfield over 20 years ago. What found memeories I have of Donna, from making popcorn the old fashion way on the stove to making sure we kids always had something to drink. Christmas Eve's before the midnight service at church, I could go on and on. You will be missed in this world.
My love to you all,
Paige

Dear Mike and family, Though I may not have known Donna for too many years, she made me feel as though I had! She has been a great mentor to me as a Rosarian. I aspire to one day possess her grace, courage, warm and generous nature, and her unfaltering knowledge of roses. I will treasure the times we had to talk at the district conventions and only wish there were more.
You are all in my prayers, Sadly, Lee Macneil & Jack Lavacchia
New England Rose Society

I felt such sadness to read of Donna's death. I used to see you and Donna as we all walked to & from Sedgwick Jr. High School. Mike, you always walked with your arm around Donna. Over the years whenever I've read of Donna in the paper regarding her work at Elizabeth Park, I always pictured the two of you walking to and from school, as I did again this morning. I am so sorry for your loss!

Mike and family, My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

Mike and Family,

God blessed us with Donna. Her happy, generous spirit will be lovingly remembered by all whose lives she touched.

Donna Fuss will be greatly missed by her rose friends, and especially by rosarians of the Connecticut Rose Society and all who love and enjoy Elizabeth Park, where she will forever be remembered as "The Rose Lady." Her contributions to the world of roses have been tremendous, and her dedication to roses has been inspirational to many rosarians far beyond her home.

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Donna. Our thoughts and prayers are with you always. PEACE be with you,

Mr. Fuss, Jennie and Sean,

My heart and the hearts of many others are so very sad to hear of your great loss. Mrs. Fuss will be miss by all who were blessed to have known her, including my own three children who always loved visiting on Halloween! A tradition that brought much happiness to them because of her kindness and love. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

With much love and sympathies,
Lisa Sheehan Bragaia

At this time of deep sorrow, may the warmth of family and friends comfort you and yours. Please know that we will keep Donna in our thoughts and prayers as part of the celebration of her wonderful life lived. God Bless Donna and family. Sincerely, Bill and cathy

The park will not be the same w/o her. When I first started coming to the park, she was Elizabeth Park to me. A very special lady.