Well, it’s yet another bad day. Unfortunately, Kelly Benjamin’s mother, Donna Grover, died away yesterday evening. When it comes to the 246 Armor Association, Kelly serves as our Secretary. Joe Grover, her father, has been a member for much longer.
Over the course of some time, Donna had been battling cancer. It is my hope that she is finally at peace and no longer in pain. To Kelly and Joe, as well as to all of their family members and close friends, please accept our deepest condolences.
Everyone, please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. We are saddened to inform you that Donna Marilyn Grover passed away on December 5, 2022 at the Hanna Hospital. She was 87 years old. Our hearts are filled with sorrow and loss as we share this news. On July 30, 1935, Donna Anderson was born in Calgary. She was raised in Strathmore by her loving parents, George and Ruth Anderson, along with her younger siblings, Norma, Mervyn, and Lloyd. The family relocated to Hanna in 1948, and it was there that Donna made many of the acquaintances she would keep for the rest of her life.
In her teenage years, Donna was a talented pianist, a lifeguard, and a founding member of the Hanna Seals Swim Club. She also worked as a lifeguard. It was in 1953 when she tied the knot with Arnold Grover, and she went on to become a dedicated and caring mother to their two children, Sheila and Murray. As well as being a member of The Hanna Players, she was employed at Gamble Drugs/Stewart Drugs, served as the organist and Jr. Choir leader at the Church of Christ, played the trombone with the Hanna & District Community Band, and was a member of the company.
In addition to skiing in the mountains, the family enjoyed skiing in Alliance, Alberta. In the Canadian Rockies, Donna’s hiking expeditions with the Skyline Trail Hikers were some of her favorite experiences.
After deciding to pursue a career in nursing, Donna relocated to Calgary in 1975. During the course of her 25-year career in the healthcare industry, she had positions in a number of different areas, including medical teaching and pediatrics at the General Hospital, as well as physio treatment at the Peter Lougheed Hospital.
There were many things that Donna enjoyed doing, including singing in the choir at First Baptist Church, traveling to places like Great Britain, Russia, Alaska, and the Yukon, listening to classical music, taking photographs and scrapbooking, and attending all of the significant life events of her cherished grandkids and great-grandchildren. She spent forty years hiking and cross-country skiing countless miles with her beloved friends from the Calgary Weekend Hikers and the Norseman Ski Club.
Her passion for the mountains gave her the opportunity to see the beauty of the highlands. Back in the year 2020, Donna relocated to Hanna. She cherished the two years that she spent living in the Manor, during which she was able to spend time with her family and increase her overall miles by going on walks to Fox Lake.
Donna was a person who prayed a lot. She had a deep love for her family and was very proud of them. Her view on life was optimistic, and she was willing to accept the things that could not be altered. She placed her faith in the loving care and wisdom of God. While she was living her life with grace and dignity, she served as a source of motivation for all of us.
