Donna Downing, 65, of Exeter, Maine, passed away surrounded by her loving family on the morning of July 15, 2025 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA, where she was seeking treatment for stage IV pancreatic cancer. Donna and her husband, Gary, married in 1978 and built a close-knit family while running a multi-generational potato farm. She was devoted to her loving husband, Gary, sharing 47 years of marriage and business partnership with him. Donna was also a loving, devoted, and incredible mom to her two daughters, Christina and Tammy.
Donna worked for many years at the Penobscot County Jail as a corrections officer and food service director. She also coordinated many special community outreach programs/projects for the jail. Donna is survived by husband, Gary; their daughter Christina, her husband, Michael, their son Jackson, and their daughter Campbell; their daughter Tammy, her husband Derek, and their daughter Ryan; and multiple extended family members and several close friends.
Donna’s joyful and compassionate nature, unwavering positivity, patience, thoughtfulness, and integrity will forever endure in the hearts of all who knew her. Her heart was vast, loving, and forgiving. She was a warm and genuine nurturer to all who needed it, always lending an ear to listen and a hug to heal and comfort, while approaching all without judgment. Her kindness drew others to her and she was blessed with the unique ability to connect with them instantly and put them at ease. This exceptional talent led many to consider her a beautiful old soul, wise beyond her years. Donna always lit a room with her bright and shining presence because she always put the needs of others first. She was a beloved boss and coworker, devoted friend, a self-taught yet skilled hairdresser, and an incredibly talented seamstress. She designed and created countless clothing items, including her daughters’ prom and wedding dresses.
Donna loved gardening and tending to her many houseplants. She also loved vacationing with family and close friends, especially their family trips to fun parks, cruises, and trips to the ocean, beaches, and mountains. She also enjoyed birdwatching (especially hummingbirds), watching sunrises and sunsets, sharing a cup of coffee and long and quiet conversations with her husband, bargain shopping for loved ones, crocheting caps for premature babies and cancer patients, and spending family time at the lake. She especially loved spending quality time with her family, especially crafting with her grandchildren, and time on backyard decks and patios with her grandchildren and their families. She always enjoyed spending time with her closest friends.
Above all, Donna was always extremely proud of her girls, her grandchildren, and their unique accomplishments. Her retirement dream was to spend as much time as possible with her husband, enjoy life with her girls and grandchildren, and donate her time nurturing and loving premature babies.
Donna’s family will forever miss her unconditional love and nurturance, calming presence, constant source of comfort, words of wisdom, unwavering support, gentle guidance, and her limitless smiles and hugs that always had a way of grounding us and making everything feel alright. While her loss leaves our family with a gaping hole and life feels a little less bright without her, she will continue to be with us everyday and we are forever truly grateful that she chose us and our family to be our life partner, best friend, mom, and nana.
A celebration of Donna’s beautiful life will be held at a later time.
