Donna Marie Anne (Danyluk) Alexander

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our beloved sister and aunt at St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, after a lengthy illness. Donna was pre-deceased by her husband John Alexander, her sister Andrea Tokaryk, and her parents Nicholas and Rose Danyluk.

Born in Shoal Lake, Manitoba, Donna grew up mostly in Gimli, where her father was principal of the school at the RCAF base, and graduated from the University of Manitoba, where she also obtained her teaching certificate. She began her teaching career in Transcona. Through her family connections to the airbase at Gimli, Donna met and fell in love with a handsome young airman, John Alexander. When John was posted overseas, she joined him in Baden Soellingen, Germany, where they were married in January,1969.

Donna was a dedicated and talented teacher, and over the next three decades, as John was posted successively to Comox, BC, back to Baden Soellinen, Edmonton, and finally Winnipeg, Donna took the opportunity to teach in each location. With shared passions for food, reading, golf, Irish Setters and curling; Donna and John also made the most of their many and varied postings, traveling widely and immersing themselves in the local communities.

After a lifetime of moving every few years, Donna and John set down roots in Winnipeg, where she once again taught: this time at John Brebeuf School. Back in Manitoba, they were also able to enjoy the closeness of family and friends. Their backyard pool became a summer focus of family activity, particularly for their nieces and nephews. Intelligent, well-read and outgoing, Donna was also a masterful cook and loved to try out new recipes on friends and family. A dinner at Donna’s table guaranteed wonderful food and lively conversation on any subject from history to politics.

Donna will be deeply missed by brothers Darrel (Bonnie) and Ted (Shelley) Danyluk, sister Rene (Paul) Stanway, her brothers- and sisters-in-law, and her many nieces and nephews in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, BC and Florida. A funeral service will be held at St. Paul the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, 2400 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, on Friday, October 7, at 12:00 p.m. to be followed by interment at St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery, Olha, Manitoba, where she will rest beside her husband, sister and parents.