Dona Marie Estep, 77, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, formerly of Altoona, died Thursday, July 5, 2012, at her residence.
She was born in Altoona and was a longtime resident of Cuyahoga Falls.
Surviving are five children: Terry Lynn (Dr. Michael) Kelley, Paul Alexander (Pam) Troxell, Allison Kay (Charles) Nettle, Eric Glenn (Maryjo) Troxell and Matthew Curtis (Julie) Troxell; 12 grandchildren: Paul Kelley, Alexander Kelley, Daniel and Kristen Troxell, Charles and Mae Nettle, Stephanie Rittman, Mallory Pittman, Daniel Pittman, Brandon, Matthew and Samantha Troxell; sisters and brothers-in-law: William and Alexis Kennedy and Robert and Cynthia Kerscher; and nieces and nephews.
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She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence "Bill" Estep.
Dona attended Fairview Elementary School and Keith Junior High School and was a 1952 graduate of Altoona High School. She belonged to Christian Business Women and was Miss Sylvania Pennsylvania in 1952 and a hospital aide in 1951.
Dona married her high school sweetheart, Frederick F. Troxell, and they came to Ohio in 1954. She was class president of her nursing class in 1966, was employed at Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital for nearly 30 years and retired in 1995. She loved her job and fellow coworkers while working in the hospital. She enjoyed bowling and loved to swim, roller skate and read. She was a proud mother of five children, grandmother to 13 and great-grandmother to three and loved watching her children grow to be such wonderful caring, loving people. She was a member of St. Eugene's Catholic Church.
In 1983, she married Bill Estep, and they enjoyed their grandchildren, traveling and all of their wonderful neighbors and friends, of which there were many.
In 1978, the hospital gave permission to Dona and friends Marjorie, Gretchen and Alice to travel to Europe, where they experienced a memorable trip together, especially Dona's "brave" driving on the Autobahn! A fun time for all!
Friends will be received from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, July 9, 2012, at Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home, 1930 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. A funeral Mass will be celebrated for family only per Dona's request at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 10, 2012, at St. Eugene's Catholic Church.
Dona's video tribute will be viewable at cliffordshoe
maker.com
Memorials may be given to the Alzheimer's Association, 70 W. Streetsboro Road, Hudson, OH 44236, or American Cancer Society, 5525 N. Broad St., Canfield, OH 44406.
