Donna Elizabeth Coutts, aged 96, of Riverside Glen, peacefully passed away
on September 18, 2020 with family at her side after suffering a broken hip
the previous week. She was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba to parents George
James & Gladys Maude Picknard Whitlock. Donna graduated from St Mary�s
Academy in 1936. She then went on to study Nutrition at University but
was unable to complete these studies due to the war. She married the love
of her life John Allan Coutts in 1948.
Donna is survived by her son George, daughter-in-law Debbie, granddaughter
Tanya and her husband Angelo, great grandsons Joshua and Manny. Her
daughter Val Marie, her son-in-law Chuck, her granddaughter Megan and her
husband Andrew. Her sister-in-law Muriel and her three daughters Allison,
Sarah and Kathleen and their families and her nephews John, David and
Allan and their families. She was predeceased by her mother, father and
her Aunty Dete in 1980, her adoring husband in 1964, her brother Garth in
1985, her sister-in-law Peggy in 2017, and her father-in-law Allan in 1970
and mother-in-law Bella in 1988.
In 1949 Donna was the 'stroke' of the War Canoe representing the Winnipeg
Canoe club in Ottawa where, with her team, they won the Rideau Cup,
emblematic of Canadian Women's paddling supremacy (Canadian Champions).
Donna participated in many summer and winter sports throughout her life
and was a master bridge player.
In 1948 Donna joined the Beta Sigma Phi, a non-academic sorority who focus
on community work and charities. In her seventy plus years as a member
she held many offices, made friends around the world and cherished every
moment. At the time of her passing she was an active member of Bata Tau
Master Sorority chapter in Guelph. Donna was known as a volunteer and
would always put others before herself.
One of Donna's passion was Dream's Take Flight, an Air Canada Program
where special needs children are flown to a Disney Theme Park (Ca or Fl)
for a very long day full of new adventures and experiences that are life
altering for them. Donna requested that in lieu of flowers that a donation
be made in her name to Dreams Take Flight at yyz.dreamstakeflight.ca
Due to Covid 19, a private celebration of Donna's life was held on
September 24th.
To a life well lived, you were one elegant lady and will be dearly missed
by family and all who knew her.