Donna Huffert

Donna Huffert, 62, of Carbondale, died Thursday at Creekside Health Care Center, Carbondale, after a courageous battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband, Lee Huffert.

Born July 4, 1955, in Carbondale, daughter of the late Francis and Virginia Northup Freeman, she was formerly employed at the Gentex Corp., Simpson, and retired from Head Start of Lackawanna County as a cook. Donna enjoyed crafts, especially plastic canvas. Her greatest joy in life was spending time with her great-granddaughter, Ariana Rose, who always brought a smile to her "Gigi's" face. Donna was a kind and generous person but also very feisty. She will be deeply missed by family and friends.

She is also survived by three children, Laura Crowl and husband, Michael, Greenfield Twp.; Jeffrey Miller and fiancée, Melissa Milner, Carbondale; and Erika Huffert, Carbondale; 10 grandchildren, Alexis, Michael, Kendra, Kimberlee, Jeremy, Jeffrey, Kayden, Alyssa, Sawyer and Gage; a great-granddaughter, Ariana Rose; nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by three brothers, Howard, Frederick and Jerry Castle.

Friends may call Tuesday, 4 to 8 p.m. at Carmine J. & Louis C. Parise Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc., 89 Farview St., Carbondale. Private interment, Wheeler Hill Cemetery, Pleasant Mount. To share condolences with Donna's family, visit www.parisefuneralhome.com.