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- Donna Mae (Hibicki) Garvey, age 88, of Appleton, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 18, 2015, at Fox River Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Donna was born in Berlin, WI on September 22, 1927, the only child of Frank and Josephine (Ceman) Hibicki. As her family and close friends know, Donna was proud of her parents, her hometown and her Polish heritage. She attended grade school and high school in Berlin, graduating from Berlin High School in l944 at the age of 16. That same year she began her college career at Lawrence College in Appleton. Donna was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority and graduated in 1948 with a major in Biology. While at Lawrence, she met her future husband, Gene Garvey, who she was married to for 36 years until his death in 1987. After graduating from Lawrence College, she spent several years teaching biology in West Bend, WI. Gene and Donna were married in 1950, and she became a homemaker, raising her five children and sharing her respect and love of nature with them. For 20 years, Donna worked as a volunteer at Mosquito Hill Nature Center in New London sharing her enthusiasm and love of nature with the hundreds of students with whom she came into contact. As an avid bird watcher, Donna enjoyed trips to Point Pelee, Ontario, Canada, Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth, MN, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and spring migration in Cape May, NJ. In the 1980's, Donna studied for and earned her real estate license subsequently working in the real estate profession for a number of years. Donna continued to share her knowledge and love of nature in her later years while living at Touchmark Retirement Community where she produced a monthly educational bulletin board for residents on topics related to all things nature.
Donna is survived by her five children: Mark (Neilia) Garvey of Weatherford, TX, Mary Jo (Tommy) Heiderman of Naples, FL, David Garvey of Addison, TX, Bruce (Marlene/Minnie) Garvey of DePere, Wi and Maureen/Mo Bohning of Winneconne, WI; 8 grandchildren: Scott, Erin, Michael, Matt, Garvey, Bridget, Ryan and Crystal and 5 great-grandchildren: Elizabeth, Samantha Mae, Maggie, Wyatt and Rhys.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her son-in-law: Mark Bohning.
A memorial service will take place at 11 am on Saturday, January 9, at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 1617 W Pine St, Appleton, with Rev. Dennis Ryan officiating. Friends may visit at the church on Saturday from 9 am until the time of service. Private interment will be in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, Appleton.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Friends of Mosquito Hill Nature Center, N3880 Rogers Rd, New London, WI 54961 or Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund, 1145 W Main Ave, Suite 205, DePere, Wi 54115. Donations can also be made to a non-profit that helps individuals obtain medication to prevent blindness from macular degeneration at Chronic Disease Fund, 6900 N Dallas Parkway Suite 200, Plano, TX 75024. Donna's children would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staffs of Touchmark Retirement Community, Fox River Nursing and Rehabilitation, Rehab Care and Heartland Hospice who provided so much care, support and love over the last seven years.
Remembering Donna Mae Garvey: Optimistic - Pragmatic - Logophile (Loved Words!) - Forthright
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1927 - 2015 (88 years)
