Donna was the youngest daughter of Edwin and Josephine Pettett. She had an older sister Verna Sandell and an older brother Dale Pettett. She grew up living in many areas of Skagit Valley, as her Dad was a traveling repairman, turkey/poultry farmer and Jack of all Trades during the Great Depression. She graduated High School and married Joseph Connor and they became parents to Eddie Joe born on June 4, 1947. The marriage ended, they divorced and she was a single Mom. Her family helped support her and Eddie until she met Richard Rose in Mt. Vernon while he was on shore duty while stationed on NAS Whidbey. They married on February 5, 1955 and lived all over the United States, wherever the Navy took them. Eventually moving to Anchorage, AK, they became foster parents to a newborn Eskimo girl, Anita. Both Ed and Anita adopted Richard in October 1958 Donna loved where Rich's job took them, up and down the West Coast of America and knew where the city library was, Church Mass times were and started gardens wherever they lived. Transferred back to Alaska, summer fishing trips, with berry picking, along with garden bounty were the order of the summers spent there, as well as hosting many family and friends who visited the Last Frontier. She volunteered with Birthright, Legion of Mary, Catholic Daughters of America, Foster Parents of Alaska along with dancing lessons, school activities and Girl Scouts. Richard, retired from work life, and they moved back to Whidbey Island, where all Navy Vets wanted to be! They participated with St Augustine's activities, BPOE Elks Lodge Oak Harbor, fishing and crabbing, gardening and enjoyed visits from friends and family, especially at the yearly family reunions. Also traveling extensively throughout Europe, Australia and the USA. Eventually, Anita and her husband Ron settled on Whidbey Island with their children, Wendy, Justin, Stephanie, James, Anthony and Anjuli. Awhile later Ed and his wife Laura decided to settle on the Island as well. Followed by their oldest daughter Tina and her family, with daughers, Angela and Dana, loving to visit our corner of the world. She glowed when asked about her family and announced all 9 grandchildren grown and married, with 23 and 1 on the way great grands, and 6 great great grands all from 2 children! She loved her family with all her heart, her nieces and nephews all over the NW, her books, travels and the close friends she'd made over the years
living on Whidbey Island. She will be remembered as the sassy, loving, woman she is and will be missed by many.