Obituary of Dona Marie Choate
CHOATE; Dona Marie (nee Turner; nee Green)
June 6, 1941 – May 3, 2019
Passed away peacefully at Riverview Manor, Peterborough, on May 3, 2019 with family by her side. Dona, in her 78th year, will always be loved and missed by her daughters Colleen (Keith Armstrong), Karen (John Fullerton), Christine (Jamie Campbell), and Barbara-Anne (Reid Elstone). She is remembered by her step children Sherri Baker (Dave), Sarah Gillis (Jeff) and Dan Choate. Dona is also survived by 9 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren. Predeceased by her husband David, her parents Bruce Turner and Bernice (Munro) Clarke, and grandson Brendan Gillis.
Dona was an amazing swimmer and at 13 achieved her Bronze Medallion, an unheard-of feat in 1954! She loved to dance and when she was 15, she opened the “Donna Turner School of Dance” in Bancroft. There are still many people in and around Bancroft who know how to do a shuffle-ball-change because of her. She was a musician, an avid reader and a wizard with a crochet hook. She worked her entire life as a bookkeeper, finally retiring at age 73 when a stroke slowed down her writing hand. Always feisty, quick witted, and never suffering fools lightly, she kept her family and her caregivers constantly on their toes. Determined to maintain her independence, and supported by her girls, her life ended on her own terms.
Following Dona's wishes, she will join David and gift her body to science at Queen's University. Also following Dona’s wishes there will be no memorial service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Riverview Manor Residents’ Council (Peterborough) by visiting www.hendrenfuneralhome.com or by calling 705-652-3355. The family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to the nursing and PSW staff at Riverview Manor for their care of and compassion for Dona, especially Sarah, Shelley and Inna.