Dona "Shaffer" Bean

Dona Frances Shaffer Bean was born in Lock Haven, PA on April 28, 1953. She was the daughter to the late Donald and Shirley (Gephart) Shaffer. At 3 years of age, her family moved to South Williamsport, PA. Dona graduated from South Williamsport High School in 1971. She graduated from Lock Haven University in 1975 with a degree in secondary education and graduated from Penn College in 1979 with a degree in dental hygiene. In 1993, while working as a dental hygienist at Geisinger Medical Center, Dona met and married her husband, George Bean, a medical resident at the time.

Dona liked scrapbooking and cross stitching and would often spend days or weeks on a scrapbook or cross stitch piece and give it to someone as a gift when it was finished. She also enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles and spending time with her 7 cats. And of course, there was Penn State football. Dona had 4 season tickets since 1979 and watched the Nittany Lions win 2 national championships. Dona always identified with the Penn State ethic of hard work, integrity, and courage.

Dona loved people. She had a heart of gold and over the years volunteered at food pantries, the Salvation Army, the hospital auxiliary board, an ambulance corp, church organizations, and many other organizations.

But most of us will remember Dona for the little things she did; her cheerfulness, some encouragement when we were feeling down, a constant willingness to help out to make things easier for us. And when you became Dona's friend, you were a friend for life. She has stayed in touch with friends she made everywhere she and George lived, including Danville, PA, Long Island, NY, Philadelphia, PA, Kentucky, DuBois, PA, and the Barto area of PA.

Dona was diagnosed with an advanced stage of pancreatic cancer in November of 2024. She bravely endured months of chemotherapy treatments and increasing pain as her cancer progressed. Her last few days were spent at the Lehigh Valley Hospital Hospice, where she received IV painkillers that relieved her pain and kept her comfortable. She passed away peacefully on Friday, February 6, 2026.

Dona touched many people and will be greatly missed. Her warmth, her mind, and her spirit left a lasting mark on everyone lucky enough to know her. In addition to her husband George, Dona is survived by her brother Scott Shaffer. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her sister Sharon and brother David.