Sunnyvale, CA

Donna Joy Cole passed peacefully at her daughter's home in Santa Rosa, CA on September 3, 2024, oneday before her 92nd birthday.

Donna was born onafarm in Steele County outside Finley, ND. The fifth of eight children, she loved being outdoorsand playing sports. She was the valedictorian ofher graduating class. After high school, Donna moved to Minneapolis, MNtoput herself through nursing school.

She graduated from Fairview School of Nursing in 1955, bought a car and drove toVentura, CAwith a friend, where she got ajob at Ventura General Hospital in the OB department. In 1956, she moved to Palo Alto to work for Stanford Hospital. In1959, she was hired as the industrial nurse at Hiller Aircraft, where she met her future husband, Tom. They married in 1960 and bought a home in Sunnyvale where they raised their two daughters. Donna took a hiatus from nursing but returned to it once the girls were grown. She finished her career at Los Gatos Community Hospital as a labor and delivery nurse, a job she loved.

Donna was an active member of Bethel Lutheran Church. She completed Stephen’s Ministry training, organized the flower chart for the church for many years and enjoyed quilting every Monday, designing hundreds of quilts for those in need. After Tom’s passing in 2021, Donna moved toSanta Rosa to live with her daughters and theirfamilies. Donna had a quiet and gentle personality and expressed her faith through acts of care and support for those around her.

Donna will be dearly missed by all who loved her, especially her daughters Nancy Trbovich (William) and Carolyn Cole-Schweizer (George), her two grandchildren Kayla Trbovich and Mason Cole-Schweizer, and her nephew MichaelCole (Gerhild).

Family and friends are invited toamemorial service on Saturday, September 28 at 2:00pm atBethel Lutheran Church located at10181 Finch Ave. Cupertino, CA.