Donna Lee Simmons

Donna Lee Simmons (nee Whitten), 79, of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Monday, March 3, 2025, at her daughter's home in Crown Point, Indiana. Donna was born January 25, 1946, to Robert and Virginia (Homan) Whitten in Melrose Park, Illinois.

Donna is survived by her children Amy (Mike) Sansone of Crown Point, Indiana; Stacy (Dick) Kleitz of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Eddie Cridge of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas; stepchildren Rick Simmons, Chris Simmons and Jimmy Simmons; nine grandchildren: Marino (Lauren) Hogan, Montana Hogan, Nick Sansone, Sadie Cridge, Chloe Kleitz, Lexi Richardson, Alex Kleitz, Bradley Kleitz and GracieLyn Kleitz; and four great-grandchildren: Kallie Hogan, Payton Hogan-Hayes, Graham Hogan-Hayes and Jocelyn Hogan-Hayes. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jim Simmons, brothers Bob and Ray Whitten, stepson Scott Simmons and grandson Eddie Cridge.

Donna attended Blue Island High School and worked a variety of jobs, including secretary, waitress, realtor, restaurant and catering, chiropractic assistant, estate sales, home healthcare and owned Aesop's Deli in Calumet City, Illinois. She loved all animals (especially cats, dogs and horses), fishing and boating (especially on Fish Lake and Lake Ouachita), landscaping and gardening, knitting, traveling (especially to Alaska and Wyoming), playing cards and watching her beloved "Gunsmoke."

A funeral service for Donna will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 15 at First Presbyterian Church of Crown Point, 218 S. Court Street, Crown Point, IN 46307.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the name of Donna Lee Simmons to UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center or the Humane Society of Northwest Indiana.