Monday, May 2, 2016

Donna Gerner has passed away

Jerry Gerner just notified us that Donna has passed away.  May she Rest in Peace.
"I need to tell our family members and many friends (those who have not already been notified) that my friend, companion, lover and partner of 25 years, and my darling wife of 19 years, passed away, peacefully, on Saturday April 30, 2016. There are no words sufficient to describe the loss I feel, but for me, and for Donna's immediate family, a bright light has gone out in our lives. Rest peacefully my Love... this is not goodbye, only farewell until we are together again.
The following text will appear as an obituary in the local Williston, FL newspaper, and shortly in the local Ithaca, NY newspaper:
"Donna Rae Gerner passed away after a brief illness on April 30, 2016 at North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville, FL. Born March 22, 1943 in Ithaca, NY, and previously of Poughkeepsie, NY, she resided in Williston, FL.
Donna was a graduate of Ithaca High School and made her career first as a “mom” and later, in addition, as an accounting and finance assistant, finally retiring in 2006. Donna was a true “native” of the Finger Lakes region of New York and loved the hills, the lakes, the gorges and the people… even the weather, of upstate NY. She was passionate about fabrics and fibers, and kept two sewing machines and many pairs of knitting and crocheting needles busy with multiple and concurrent projects. Donna loved birds (especially Chickadees) and bird-watching, country music, roses, reading, dancing and a good cup of tea. She was also a fan of Masterpiece Theater and all of Public Radio & TV – Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife and All Creatures Great & Small were three of her favorite programs.
Donna is survived by her husband Jerry Gerner of Williston, FL; daughters Rebecca Sinn, nee Marvin, of Waterloo, NY and Deanna (David) Culver, nee Marvin, of Vero Beach, FL; step-sons Joshua Gerner of Ithaca, NY and Nicholas (Susan) Gerner of Seattle, WA; sisters Katherine Marvin of Moravia, NY and Linda Carlisle of Newfield, NY; brothers & sisters-in-law Gene & Sandy Gerner of Tucson, AZ, Donna & Don Damrow of Juneau, WI, Phyllis & Pat Agnew of Oconomowoc, WI and Jeff & Monica Gerner of Fort Atkinson, WI; grandsons Nikolas Sinn of Waterloo, NY and Corey Sinn of Austin, TX; great-granddaughter (and namesake) Lexi Rae Woodard of Romulus, NY; many nieces, nephews and other extended family members, and many, many friends and acquaintances in Ithaca, Poughkeepsie, Williston and wherever she traveled as an RV’er. She was preceded in death by her beloved son William Vincent (Chip) Marvin, her parents David & Grace (nee Griffin) Henderson, a sister and brother-in-law Beverly and Roger Brown, and brothers-in-law Daniel Marvin and Kenneth Carlisle.
A Celebration of Life memorial service for Donna is planned for later this spring in Ithaca, NY. Donations in memory of Donna may be made to the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology or the Public Radio & TV station of your choosing."
We were as different (in many ways) from one another as anyone might imagine and yet, God help us, we loved one another!"