Donna Joslin (Smith)

Joslin (Smith), Donna

Of Pleasant Lake, passed away at the age of 74 on Wednesday, September 18th, 2024 at Henry Ford Jackson Hospital. Donna graduated from Eastern High School in Lansing in 1967 having previously attended Rafferty Catholic School.

In her younger years, she devoted her time to raising her son and daughter, and had her last daughter in her mid-thirties. She graduated nursing school with her eldest daughter in 1999 and was a fantastic and beloved nurse at several local nursing homes for close to two decades. She was never more in her element than when she was caring for the elderly, listening to their stories and making them feel valued and respected. Friend to all she met and worked with, Donna was open-minded and always willing to grow and change.

During her lifetime, Donna was a survivor of Polio, Breast and Lung Cancer and a stroke. If there is any one thing to be remembered about Donna, it is that she was always a survivor, a stubborn, strong-willed woman with a drive to live.

Donna was a gifted writer, loved a good true crime novel, enjoyed puzzles, coloring books and video games, and never laughed harder than when Impractical Jokers was on, except perhaps when she was laughing at herself. Some of Donna's greatest joys in her golden years were Gouda cheese, keeping up with everyone's ongoings on Facebook, watching the monarchs on the milkweed in her yard, the turkeys that had moved into her neighborhood in the most recent years, tracking her children's locations through her iPhone, and sour candy. The sour candy market takes a big hit with the loss of Donna. Donna loved chicken videos, the Tigers' games, the Beach Boys, and funny movies. An indiscriminate dog lover, Donna adored and was totally devoted to each dog she called a companion.  Donna will be remembered for her strong will, her quick wit, but mostly for her sense of humor and trademark wheezing laugh. At any given moment, Donna's first priority was to do something goofy to elicit laughter from those around her. Above all, Donna's most precious role was as mother and grandmother, affectionately called "Gammie" by her youngest grandchildren and grandpets.

The world will not be the same without Gammie.

A beloved sister, aunt, mother and grandmother, Donna is reluctantly survived by her three children, Paul (Ronda Bement), Dawn Gauss, and Tara (Ryan Melnyk), and grandchildren Bradley, Anthony, Brandon, Jesse, Rhoen and Easton. She is also survived by two sisters, Carol Smith and Kathy Bourgeois (Dick) and many nephews and nieces. She leaves behind her beloved dog, Eve, and two cats, Gracie and Lucy. Donna was preceded in death by both of her parents (Don and Rita Smith), her sisters Patti and Sharyn, and her little brother Kevin. She will be especially happy to once again see them and all the pets who have passed that she so dearly loved.

Per Donna's wishes, there will be no service or visitation.

The family sends their gratitude to the wonderful and skilled team who cared for Donna during her last days at Henry Ford Jackson Hospital, with  especially deep and most sincere thanks to Dr. Karlie Shumway who provided excellent care to both Donna and her family and gave them such comfort during such a difficult time, and did everything she could to have Donna survive. In lieu of flowers, the family would like to ask that donations be sent to Jackson County Animal Shelter in Donna's honor. The family would also like to ask that those wishing to honor Donna do so by appreciating and thanking a nurse.

Desnoyer Funeral Home
Family Owned for 134 Years