"It is with your feet that you move, but it is with your heart that you dance!" (Maryanne Parks)

Donna Louise (Monery) O'Donnell, executed her very first pirouette on January 22, 1938, when she was born to Ernest and Vivian Monery in Mimico, Ontario. Dance would define Donna's life until she passed away on October 25, 2021, after a courageous battle with cancer. At an early age, dance became her passion. From dance recitals to competitions, Donna and dance became inseparable. As a teenager, she had the honour and privilege to travel to New York City to audition for the prestigious precision dance company the Radio City Rockettes. She even operated her own dance school "Donna's Dancing Dolls" where she would instill her love and passion for dance, orchestrating student recitals and competitions.

At 19, Donna Monery married her lifelong dance partner, and the love of her life Ron O'Donnell. The two became man and wife in 1957. Donna and Ron eventually settled in Oakville, Ontario in 1976, with their two children Paul Stephen and Jane Louise. Both Donna and Ron were very active in St. Dominic's Parish in Oakville, Ontario. For over 29 years, Donna assumed the role of Parish secretary, often the first "ambassador" to cheerfully greet visitors, incoming clergy and current and future parishioners. Donna was always known for her generosity and kindness, lending a helping hand or giving of herself for those in need.

With the passing of her beloved Ron in 2008, Donna relocated to Ennisclare 1, taking residence up on the fourth floor. Fiercely independent Donna spent her time working at St. Dominic's until she fell ill in the summer of 2021; travelling to Guelph to visit her daughter, son-in-law, Brian Serafini, grandsons Joshua and Kyle, or to Toronto to see her son Paul; occasionally stopping at Mohawk for some time with her favourite slot machine or organizing social gatherings with her good friends and neighbours in her condominium.

As Donna took her final dance steps, preparing to rejoin her dance partner, Ron, she will be deeply missed by her children; son-in-law; grandkids; brother Bob and his wife Sheila and niece Debbie and  nephew Stephen. Donna will also be deeply missed by her niece Siobhan and nephew Jonathan, the many parishioners, clergy from St. Dominic's Parish, and her many friends. Donna was preceded in death by her niece Laura Murphy and her sister-in law Gloria Maybee and brother-in-law Jack Maybee. Whether it was "Tripping the light fantastic" or "cutting a rug" Donna (Monery) O'Donnell throughout her life lived the belief that "Life is the dancer, and you are the dance."

To celebrate and pay respects to our mom, sister, nana, aunt and friend, Donna, there will be a visitation held on Wednesday October 27, 2021 from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm at Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home, 64 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville (one block East of Kerr Street).  A Mass celebrating Donna will be held at St. Dominic's Parish, 2415 Rebecca Street, Oakville on Thursday October 28, 2021 at 10:30 am.  In lieu of flowers, donations to Society of the Little Flower – The Order of the Carmelites to support their charitable work would be appreciated.