Donna Aiko Govas

Donna Aiko Govas, 77, died June 4, 2025, in hospice care at Illinois Masonic Hospital.

A lifelong resident of Chicago, Donna was born Jan. 24, 1948, the eldest of five children of Masao and Anne Yamasaki. She graduated from Knox College in 1969 and began the first of two careers, working in customer service for a healthcare product manufacturer for 15 years and then as a stay-at-home mother to two beloved children.

Over the years, Donna was an active volunteer for the Chicago Public Schools, both in elementary school libraries and as an art volunteer, as well as the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Chicago Books to Women in Prison. An avid reader, she loved bird watching, art, gardening, museums, theater and sports. She was treasurer of her senior women's bowling league and was always putting out good vibes for the White Sox – despite having been raised by diehard Cubs fans and living most of her adult life just off Addison.

Donna is survived by her loving husband, Kenneth Govas, and children, Elizabeth Govas and Robert Govas; three sisters, Julie (Stephen) Hansen, Esther (Fred) Rusch and Kathy Yamasaki; brother Mike Yamasaki; sister-in-law Patricia Davies Govas; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

A memorial service will be held at 12 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23 at Ravenswood Fellowship United Methodist Church, 4511 N. Hermitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60640. In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to Chicago Books to Women in Prison, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Cornell Lab of Ornithology or Anti-Cruelty.