Donna Lou Byrne

1952 - 2024

East Lyme - Donna Lou Wood Byrne, beloved sister, wife, grandmother, aunt, niece, friend, teacher, colleague and all-around wonderful person, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. She leaves her family and wide circle of friends shocked and grieving at her sudden departure from this life. Donna was born Feb. 20,1952, in Dallas, Texas, to Donald H. and Charlotte M. Wood (Smalley).

She grew up in California and Connecticut, and graduated from Glastonbury High School and Southern Connecticut State University, where she also earned an M.A. and sixth-year degree. She taught physical education to generations of students in Old Saybrook schools for 39 years where she was greatly admired by her students, parents, fellow faculty and administrators. Donna initiated and developed a wide-ranging curriculum including Project Adventure, circus units, and the legendary swing dance program that culminated at the end of January for years with the big swing dance event. She coached high school gymnastics and started the middle school cross country program. She mentored young teachers along the way and declined nominations for State Teacher of the Year many times.

Donna was very interested in health and nutrition and wanted to share what she knew and learned with everyone she could. She became involved with the Juice Plus Company as a consumer and distributor of their nutritional supplement products. This began after several bouts with pneumonia and a thirst for a healthier life. These illnesses led to the respiratory ailments she battled for the rest of her life.

Donna met her husband Mick in college. They married in 1977; bought a home in Old Lyme and raised two daughters there. After their high school graduations, they found their dream home on Pattagansett Lake in East Lyme, and have lived there for the past 20 years. Donna loved living next to the water where she could experience daily its beauty and wildlife. She loved gardening and landscaping their property and watching for eagles, ospreys and herons and all the wildlife that passed by her windows or kayak. She took up golfing in her retirement and played regularly up until just a few days before she passed. Most of all, she loved her three grandchildren who loved her just as much in return.

In addition to her husband, Donna is survived by her daughter Jacqueline Bressan, her husband Mike and son Reilly; her daughter Marianne Greenwood, her husband Eric and their children, Charlotte and Robert; her brother Steve and his wife Carol; and her brother David, his wife Alison, and their daughters, Samantha, Hayley and Madeline; her beloved aunt and uncle, Lu and Ross Christie; and her cousins, Briggs and Carol Christie and Brett and Brenda Macy and their son Sam and his wife Ali and their son Henry. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Carol Byrne, her son Ian, his wife Kayla and their son Orion.

The family plans to have a memorial service at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Old Lyme Congregational Church, followed by a reception in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to the Pattagansett Lake Association, (a 501-3c, P.O. Box 433, East Lyme, 06333), or the charity of your choice.

Thomas L. Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Please visit www.neilanfuneralhome.com to leave the family an online condolence.