Donna Jean Syverson Meredith was born on July 22, 1940 and passed away on January 29, 2013, at age 72.  She had been living in Edina for many years with husband, Dick Meredith, Minnesota Gopher and Olympic Hockey Player.  Her passing was peaceful and with her loving family at her side.  Her only child, a daughter, Kelly (husband Brian) Kapeller and her beloved granddaughters Abigail, Ellie and Brooke had an especially close and loving relationship with Donna.  Kelly and her three children played an important role in Donna's funeral and eulogized Donna in a manner that showed the special attention that Donna gave to all of them.  Other survivors include Donna's sisters Ellie, Ann and Ramona and brother, Irvin.

A few years ago Donna had contracted breast cancer, which she treated with a mastectomy and chemotherapy.  The initial belief was that the cancer had been arrested and for some time showed no signs of returning.  But more recently the cancer returned.  Donna chose not to undergo the myriad of chemo treatments available, choosing instead to let nature take its course.  This must have been a very difficult decision, inasmuch as her love for, companionship with and leadership of her family was the paramount reason for joy in her life. 

Here's a recent picture of Donna and Dick with their three granddaughters:

The oldest granddaughter, Abigail, expressed her love for Donna with this poem on December 10, 2012:

My Grandma stands strong.

She fights everything bad that comes her way.

Strong as steel, she fights the cancer.

So watch out cancer, you can fight,

But she will fight back.

And I know that for a fact.

She will be my role model forever.

The middle granddaughter, Ellie, wrote about her grandmother on January 31, 2013, two days after Donna's passing:

Everyone cares, everyone knows their

knowledge shines through their hearts.

Let yourself see, their care shines through their words.

Let yourself hear, their love is strong.

Let yourself be touched.

Walk in the path of life, love, care, friends,

family, knowledge, shine, roses.  Not hate.

Don't walk in the path of hate, misery, no peace,

no love, no care.

It's a new... let's make it good... let's make it great!

You may recall that in high school Donna was one of 4 runner-ups to Homecoming Queen Jane McCanney, and thereby a part of "Her Majesty's Court."  Donna also was active in Glee Club, Blue Tri, Pep Club, Red Cross and Student Council.  Here are a couple of pictures from 2008 of Donna with a couple of close high school friends, Sally Jones Lowe (left) and Susan Zimmerman Wernz (right):

We know that our children, for the most part, would honor us as their parents, and would say nice things about us when we are gone.  But the eulogy given by Donna's daughter, Kelly, at Donna's funeral was a very special statement, which tells us a lot more about Donna's life after we knew her in high school than we would otherwise know.  Here, in its entirety, is that eulogy:

I would like to thank you all for coming today.  As I look around, I see the faces of people who really loved my mom.  Some of you have traveled a long distance to be here, which is wonderful.  Thank you for your support, prayers and many favors you've done for our family.

My mom passed away a week ago today.  And after one week, I think we can all rest, assured that heaven is now a much cleaner place to be.  The clouds are whiter, the carpet perfectly vacuumed, and there is a distinct smell of Pine Sol.  Everywhere.  Donna has arrived.

When I think of my mom, and try to define who she was, I think of one word: Love.  Big, Huge, Love.  Her beautiful blue eyes and smile would light up a room - especially when she was around any of you.

My mom loved her childhood on Xenwood Avenue.  She has remained close with many of her neighborhood friends and always loved to reminise about the fun (and sometimes very naughty) things they used to do growing up.  As a child, she would go to work with her dad in his Kemps Ice Cream truck and would tell me stories about how she could eat as much ice cream as she wanted.  And when I was young, I don't think there was ever a time when we didn't have a carton of Kemps Ice Cream in the freezer.

She graduated from St. Louis Park High School in 1958.  She had such great memories from high school and remained friends with so many of her classmates.  She was always looking forward to the days that she and her graduating class ladies would meet for lunch at Lunds.  I see many of your faces here today and know how important all of you were to her.

My mom worked for First Banks for over 40 years.  It was at First Bank Minneapolis that she met my dad.  They had an extremely brief dating period of 7 years before getting engaged.  My mom said to my dad that she either gets a ring or she's outta there...Luckily, my dad made the right decision.  After having me and moving to Edina, she came to work at First Bank Southdale.  She loved her job and in true Donna form, she was a didicated and hard worker.  One of her best friends from work told me that if she was ever having a 'bad typing day', she could always go to my mom for help.  Back then, they had typewriters and carbon paper, and you couldn't make a mistake or you'd have to start over.  My mom's dedication to her work and her friends was a constant in her life.

On Ridgeview Drive in Edina is where my parents met some wonderful friends and where the "Friendly Friday's" group began.  Every Friday, they would meet at someone's house for a drink and then head out for dinner.  Depending on what was going on in their lives, the group occasionally had to have "Thirsty Thursdays" or "Sippy Saturdays", but for 40 years they maintained that tradition.  My mom loved these nights and told me many stories about them.  Probably not all, but some.

My mom loved family.  She loved her sisters Ellie, Ann and Ramona and brother Irvin.  My parents did a lot with my dad's brothers and their wives.  I've heard some pretty crazy stories about those days from dancing to the Chorus Line soundtrack around the pool to parties at the Observatory Club after North Star Games to playing dice late into the evening on Christmas Eve.  Family was the center of her universe, and she cherished the times we were all together.  Christmas Eve was the ultimate tradition for her and it was a tradition she held for 43 years.  She was bound and determined to have Christmas Eve this year and it was wonderful.  She was not about to deny anyone the hot dogs and barbecue sauce, oysters and velveeta cheese dip.  Because of her, I have an immense love for Christmas traditions and family gatherings.  I actually like it when Christmas music comes on in October.  And now Brian and I have started the tradition of having Christmas Day at our house.  I see our daughters looking forward to it the same way I did when I was young, and I thank her for that.

Family time at the cabin was something cherished by all of us.  Whether it was summer or winter, cabin weekends brought us together and made excellent memories.  In the summertime, my mom and I would always look at each other around 2 o'clock and say..."Well, it's not THAT early for happy hour.  We are at the cabin after all."  Then we'd pack up our snacks and drinks and away we'd go on the pontoon.  We have made some amazing friends at the cabin, and it's wonderful seeing you here today.

My husband Brian and my mom had a great relationship.  I remember when my mom first met Brian.  She told me that he was so respectful and genuine, and after she met his parents, she knew that he came from a loving family.  The delight in her voice when I told her we were engaged is something I will never forget.  Brian's mom became so close with my mom over the years - even though they lived far apart from one another, their friendship was close like they were lifelong friends.  I can now understand the feeling of wanting your daughter to be with someone you feel is good enough for them...and Brian certainly made the grade.  She also couldn't get over how handsome he was and reminded me that all hockey players have great butts.  I agree!  My mom would always tell Brian that he was her favorite son-in-law.  He didn't have a lot of competition, but I know that she meant it.

Anyone who knew my mom knew of her intense love for her granddaughters, Abigail, Ellie and Brooke.  She took being a grandma very seriously, and did all the spoiling she could get away with.  Anytime I needed help with the kids, she was always there - and very happy to do so.  She was a constant in their lives and started traditions with them like shopping before Christmas, or shopping before school began, and lots of lunches and sleepovers.  She loved going to swim meets and watching Abby and Ellie swim...even when she wasn't feeling the greatest.  "You're just the best," is what my mom would alwys say to the girls (no matter what they were doing) and I know they felt the same way about grandma.  They still do.

When I talk about how much my mom loved, it would be silly to leave out the dogs.  Our first labs, Jubil and Wheaton, enjoyed a very privileged lifestyle when my parents were around.  To say that they lived the high life is a serious understatement, and I used to refer to their stays with my parents as "spa days".  My mom loved those dogs, and our current chocolate lab, Gabby, with all her heart.  She would tell me how much she loved Gabby sleeping with her up at the cabin.  One night I came in to say goodnight and to see how their 'sleeping arrangement' was working out.  My mom had about 4 inches of the twin bed, while Gabby was stretched out very comfortably on the rest of it.  They were both happy as could be.  As my dad was clearing out some drawers the other night, he came across a saying my mom had written down: "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."  My mom had wanted that said at her funeral, and somehow he came across it.  It's absolutely perfect.

There is one more thing that my mom loved.  Me.  My mom loved me with all her heart, and she told me that daily.  When I was young, I used to ask her why she only had one child.  On a good day, she would say, "Short Stuff, you are all we ever wanted."  On other days, it was, "Kelly Ann, you are all we could handle!"  My mom was a fantastic mom, my best friend and someone I shared everything with.  And she certainly had an opinion on everything I shared with her.  One of her favorite phrases was, "It's just a suggestion..."  Like, "Are you really going to wear that?  Did you try something else on?  Oh - it's just a suggestion."  Just a suggestion meant that I'm crazy not to take her advice.  Most often, I took that advice and I will say that more often than not, she was right.  We had some wonderful traditions together - my favorite was at Christmas time.  We would always have a shopping night out.  Early on, it was going to Clancy's drug store for dinner and then to Bellesons to find my dad a gift.  Later on, it became Daytons and then Macy's for shopping and then dinner and popovers.  And a glass of wine, of course!  We had more laughs together than I can count - usually laughing at ourselves, which just made it all the more hilarious.  She showed me how to be a good mom to my daughters, and I truly feel blessed to have her as my angel, looking over me and guiding me along the way.

Donna had a knack for making those around her feel loved in a very special way.  There is a void in our lives now that just can't be filled.  But I feel privileged, blessed and honored to have known such a remarkable woman.  Thank you so much for coming today, and for celebrating her life.  She really was the best.