Amelia "Mimi" McDonald

1948 - 2018

BORN

1948

DIED

2018

Amelia McDonald Obituary

Amelia "Mimi" McDonald
PEORIA - Amelia Jane "Mimi" Brown McDonald, 69, of Peoria passed away Monday, January 22, 2018, surrounded by family and friends, after a valiant battle with cancer.
Mimi was the kind of person you would want in your corner. An outspoken activist and staunch advocate for human rights, Mimi was a trailblazer and inspiration for others to follow.
Mimi was born July 24, 1948, in Peoria to William Bush and Elizabeth Mangas ("Betty" or "Gigi") Brown. She grew up on Moss Avenue and married her high school sweetheart, John L. McDonald, on April 29, 1971. She attended college in Minnesota and later worked for a short time in a research lab at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, among other places, but devoted her energy to raising her four children and her time to friends and causes.
Mimi was no stranger to adversity. Her first son, John Christopher "Chris," soon after birth was in a coma for two years due to spinal meningitis and was left legally blind and deaf. Despite overwhelming odds and discouraging advice, Mimi never gave up on Chris, who today continues to be a productive member of society and a living, thriving tribute to her dedication and love.
Very little slowed Mimi down. She survived a quadruple heart bypass and an autotransplantation of her kidney (for which she credited Dr. Terry Brady and the late Dr. Robert Flinn for saving her life).
Mimi is survived by one daughter, Karen Christine (David) Haney; three sons, John Christopher McDonald, James Christian McDonald and Jordan Carlos McDonald; granddaughter, Adrianna Mae McDonald; and grandson, Christian James McDonald. She also is survived by three brothers, Deloss Brown IV, William B. (Sharon) Brown Jr. and Lyman M. (Anne) Brown; nephew, Lyman J. Brown-Whitehill; and other nieces and a nephew.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her former husband, John McDonald.
She enjoyed music, gambling at the Par-A-Dice and the company of friends. But most of all, she loved seeing her children succeed.
In lieu of a funeral, Mimi hosted her own "going away" party at The 50s Diner in October so she could do it her way, as she always insisted. Continuing her way of giving to others, she donated her body to science. Donations in memory of Mimi may be made to the Community Workshop & Training Center (www.CWTC.org) in Peoria, where her son, Chris, has worked for nearly 20 years; or the American Cancer Society.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Peoria Journal Star from Jan. 25 to Jan. 27, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Amelia McDonald

9 Entries

Paula Jacobs

January 30, 2018

Mimi was best friends with all her friends. She would help anyone in need. No one was a stranger to her.She will always be my only sister since both of us have only brothers.
We got through some of our darkest times together. There will never be anyone like Mimi. I love her cats (Flinn & Brady) but I can't have 5!

Judy Jones

January 30, 2018

Mimi, where do I begin? Our paths crossed almost 40 years ago when Chris was a student at Sterling School. Our first relationship was that of parent/teacher when you trusted your most prized possession, Chris, to me. We quickly became friends when we realized that our objective was the same....to educate Chris. I remember your sadness when you spoke of his illness at 6 months of age and how it left him with two sensory impairments, of which the deafness was the hardest for you to accept. From the beginning we were able to agree to disagree on what was best for Chris. You had worked very hard to get him to the place where he was when he entered school. That was not an easy task, and I respected that. You were very inventive, stimulating all of his senses even when you were told it was all for naught. I was always impressed with your constant search for things that were useful tools to use with Chris. I credit you for your push/drive to get Chris to where he is today. I learned so much about teaching from you and Chris. I think of all of the equipment that we learned about and used, some of which he still uses today. Our trip, post high school, to the Helen Keller Center for the Deaf/Blind was quite the adventure. I think of the tears you shed for the young adults we met who were diagnosed with Usher's Syndrome. We sat up late into the night listening and talking to these young deaf adults sharing their fears about losing their vision. They had accepted their deafness, but their vision loss frightened them, cutting them completely off from the world they knew. You were saddened by what lay ahead for them since their vision was now being robbed from them. I think we could write a book about that trip. Chris was lucky to call you mom, as were Karen, Jimmy, and Jordan, but I was lucky to call you my friend. I will miss our late night/early morning phone calls, our lunch/dinner meet ups when I came back to IL, but most of all I will miss our friendship. You have given so much to so many, including me. Many of your gifts were anonymous to the receiver and those secrets will always be safe with me. Fly high dear friend, as long as I have known you, you fought hard for those who needed your backing and voice, but now sadly your work on earth is done....until we meet again.

The 3 old ladies and Chris

Patti Cooper

January 30, 2018

She was truly one of a kind and I loved her dearly. The memories we made for Chris last year will never be forgotten and great memories for me. To watch her and Chris was pure joy and showing of love. I miss her everyday. Love to Karen, Jimmy, Jordan, and Chris as well as her grandchildren.

Daniel B.

January 29, 2018

Mimi's will, dedication, and passion was unmatched. She lived her life as a example that we all have a voice and have power to help those around us. She is missed and I wish her comfort and bliss in the hereafter.

Christina Lanpher

January 28, 2018

We were such a great woman... My second you will truly be missed and already are... I love you so much!!!

January 27, 2018

Please accept my sincere condolences for your loss, and look forward to a time when death will be gone forever.

Loretta Lanpher

January 26, 2018

My dear friend, for almost 30 years we have seen each other thru many trials and laughed until we had tears on our faces. Now I will honor your memory by being the sounding board for your children that we were for each other. When I moved away from Peoria some 14 years ago, we promised that we would not let it end our friendship. I would visit you every year at least once. Now that you have gone to Heaven, I will have to rely on long distance communication since Delta doesn't sell any return tickets from your new home. I will do my best to continue the fight for justice in your name. When it is my time, i will "call" you to make my reservation. Love you.

Kimberly Moore

January 25, 2018

Thank you for being you. I love you!

Omar Sofradzija

January 25, 2018

Mimi was one of a kind. So passionate, committed and stubborn in the best ways. What a hoot! My thoughts with Chris, Karen and the rest of the McDonald children.

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