Donna R Jordan

Donna R. Jordan passed away peacefully on December 3, 2025, at the age of 83, after a long illness.

Donna was born and grew up in Taunton, MA, where she graduated Taunton High School and later, University of Massachusetts in Amherst. She was preceded by her parents Lillian A. Wilbur née Eddy, and Donald C. Wilbur, as well as her sister, Jean Briscoe.

She is survived by her loving husband, William (Bill) Jordan, their children, Dr. Timothy Jordan, OD (Rochelle), Cara Jordan (Rob), and son, Bill Jordan (Coleen). She cherished her grandchildren, MacKenzie and Ashleigh, and looked forward to the many times when the two girls would stay for a day or two at Grandpa and Grandma's home in Chatham, and visit their favorite places together: Eldridge Library, Yellow Umbrella Books and the Chatham playground.

During her time at Taunton High School, Donna was chosen as Head Majorette, leading Mr. Park's (THS) band in all the football games. She also loved her experiences at University of Massachusetts, Amherst. There, she was a member of the Niaids Precision Swim Team, and played a role in establishing the first chapter of Tri Sigma Sorority at UMass Amherst.

Donna spent summers at her parents' cottage in Mattapoisett. There, she sailed as first mate in her friend, Rhoda Henkel's Beetle Cat boat, participating in weekly tournaments.

The soft spoken and quiet Donna, with a lovely smile, enjoyed teaching young children. She started her teaching career at Rochester Childrens' Nursery in Rochester, NY, and later moved and continued her work in Norton, MA. Between arrivals of each of her three children she continued as a nursery school teacher. As the children grew older, she became interested in doing something new and went back to school to receive a Medical Assistant degree, resulting in her working for a number of years in the office of physician, Dr. Steven Flood in Norton, MA.

In her free time she enjoyed canoeing and kayaking and boating with her husband, Bill, and with her sister, Jean and Jean's husband Bob, and family. She also embarked on cruises in the Caribbean, Baltic Sea, and Bermuda, and sailing in the BVI with friends from South Carolina and New York, and from Harwich and Chatham. Winter and Spring vacations in Florida were also a joy.

In 2016, Donna and Bill enjoyed a trip to England and France with their dear friends, Ron and Shirley Kangas.

During her years on the Cape, she became an active member of First Congregational Church in Chatham, where she became a member of the Bell Choir, of the knitting group, and enjoyed the close-knit family of fellow church members.

A skilled crafts lady, Donna had a talent for Porcelain Doll making, not only fabricating the dolls, but also cutting and making doll dresses from antique clothing. She also loved knitting, toll painting, rug hooking, and investigating family genealogy.

During her late years, Donna experienced increasing challenges from dementia, receiving wonderful personal care from: the Quality Homecare Cape Cod team of skilled caregivers, from her husband, Bill, and medical support from many wonderful physicians: including Drs. Flood, Biliouris, Rosadzinski, Horrigan, Durfee and his staff, and from the Nurses and others of Cape COD VNA Hospice.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service for Donna will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to:

Jenny Sophis, Development Director, Clarke Schools for Speech and Hearing, 1 Whitman Road, Canton MA 02021; or First Congregational Church of Chatham, 650 Main Street, Chatham MA 02633.