Donna Marie Gillen

Donna Marie Gillen passed away on April 24, 2024, at Fulton County Health Manor under the care of Hospice. She was born in Toledo, Ohio on May 15, 1943, to Amelia (Lofay) Henry. Donna graduated from Swanton high school. She married her high school sweetheart Thomas Joseph Gillen, June 24,1961. After getting married Donna fostered children thru Catholic Charities before having three of her own to raise. When the boys got older, she went to work at Westgate Laboratory of Pathology and Holly Glen Nursing home. Donna and Thomas both worked together at Town Center Place in Ypsilanti and Farmington Place Farmington, both in Michigan managing the complex together. After Thomas retired, he had an accident that rendered him handicapped for the rest of his life. Donna became his caregiver until his sudden death last year. She loved cooking and baking many things. She enjoyed camping, playing cards, reading poetry, watching movies, and Chinese food. She served as a Eucharistic Minister for shut ins at OLL for many years until Thomas became disabled, she also assisted in cleaning OLL church.

She is survived by sons, Terrance A Gillen (Deb Campbell), Anthony M Gillen (Terri Lynn); grandsons, Mark W Beebe II (Tiffany) and Nicholas S Gillen, great-grandsons, Ashton Beebe and Lukas Beebe. Brother-in-law, Patrick Gillen (Delores) and family. Brother, Anthony Viertleboeck, sister, Louella Strong, many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, and first-born son, Gary P Gillen (Brenda Carpenter) and husband, Thomas Joseph Gillen, and brothers, Donald Henry and Duane Henry.

Visitation for Donna will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes, 6149 Hill Ave at 9am on Saturday May 4, 2024. Memorial service will follow at 10am.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Lourdes or Hospice of NWO. Online condolences may be left to the family at walkerfuneralhomes.com