C. Collins Mrs. Donna Mae Linden, who was 83 years old, passed away at the Cottage of Davison on Tuesday, October 31, 2023. A much-loved matriarch who is passing on a legacy that involves love, strength, kindness, and faith to those who remember her.
Having been born on February 18, 1940 in Cleveland, Ohio, Donna Pillow was the daughter of Carroll and Lucille Kruska Pillow, both of whom have since passed away. Having graduating as the valedictorian from Holy Redeemer Catholic High School in 1958, she went on to study at St. Mary’s College, which is located in South Bend, Indiana.
The wedding took place at Holy Redeemer Church in Flint on May 21, 1966, and it was attended by Arthur “Fred” Draper. Both of them were fortunate enough to have five amazing children together. The sudden and untimely death of her husband in 1986, when she was only 46 years old, brought about a profound and irreversible upheaval in her life.
She became a source of strength for her children, raising them with an amazing amount of love and resilience, and through her understanding of the path that was given to her, she depended on her faith and the community within which she lived. While she was juggling all of the responsibilities that come with being a single parent, she never missed a single sporting event or any of the activities that her children participated in.
The choices that Donna’s children made in terms of finding their forever partners are a clear indication of the legacy that Donna left behind as a powerful mother and a role model. Each of them has been married for more than twenty years, and her five children have surrounded her with affection.
She also has eleven amazing grandchildren and two great grandchildren surrounding her. She placed a great deal of importance on her grandchildren. Each grandchild was made to feel loved and appreciated by her, whether it was through the act of playing games, baking, or attending sporting activities that they participated in.
It was through St. John Evangelist Church that she was introduced to Edward Ed Collins, the second love of her life, nineteen years after the death of her first husband. The two of them eventually tied the knot in the year 2005. The two of them set out on a journey together that was full of friendship, travel, shared joys Michigan Football, and unflinching support for one another, as well as for Ed’s four children and his nine grandkids.
In the year 2019, Ed passed away. Prior to becoming a mother, Donna was employed as an electrocardiogram EKG technician at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Flint. After spending nearly twenty years caring for her children, she went back to work as an electrocardiogram EKG and stress test technician at St. Joseph’s Hospital and, eventually, Genesys Regional Medical Center in Grand Blanc, where she remained until she retired.
She was incredibly grateful for her career, her coworkers, and the ability to assist other people. After arriving to the Linden area in 1972, Donna had a strong faith and was a very active member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Fenton. She was a member of the church for many years. She donated her time for a variety of church events on a regular basis in order to provide support for the community that she was a part of. All five of her children attended St. John School.
The fact that she was able to raise five children with the assistance of her church and community was largely due to the fact that she had a network of friends who would be with her for the rest of her life. When her children were older, she continued to rely on the same group of friends for love, friendship, and the opportunity to experience new things and support one another.
