Donna Isabel FRASER

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Donna Isabel Fraser on May 23, 2025 in Rosetown Hospital with her family by her side.

Donna was a sister, aunt, great aunt and had many friends. Most times travelling with Donna anywhere someone always new her as she had helped many families with their special needs children and different programs. Donna was always interested in her siblings travels and nieces and nephews’ accomplishments.

Donna is survived by brother Bill (Ellen), sister Trudy Tucker (Bob), sister Sheryl Zacharias, sister Cathy Kidd (Kirk), many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews and one great-great niece and one remaining aunt Wilma Coffin. Donna was predeceased by her parents Duncan and Inez Fraser, great-niece Courtney Tucker, niece Lisa (Fraser) Marriott and brother-in-law Dan Zacharias.

Donna was born on June 1, 1939, the oldest of five children, to Duncan and Inez Fraser {Burt}. The farm was three miles west of Zealandia on the correction line. Her grandparents, Jim and Lillian Fraser, lived across the road. In the 40’s and 50’s, there was a family living on nearly every section of land. Donna and her brother Bill were taught early how to help with the farming by driving trucks, tractors, combines, caring for animals and learning how to build granaries and mix cement! Donna attended public school in Zealandia and sometimes in winter had to take horse and sleigh to school or walk 1 ½ miles to the highway where the truck would start by cranking the motor. Early activities in Zealandia were Mission Band, Brownies, Girl Guides, United Young People's Group and track and field events. While attending high school at Rosetown Composite High School, she was in West Central track and field competitions, curled, played softball for the Rosetown Rookies women's ball team and hockey for the Zealandia women's team and also drove stock car.

In 1958, Donna entered the three-year psychiatric nursing program at the Saskatchewan Training School {now Valley View Centre} in Moose Jaw. Her training was interrupted when she contracted tuberculosis and spent a year in Fort SAN at Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan. This experience made her a better nurse. Donna graduated psychiatric nursing in 1962 and continued to work in Moose Jaw until October 1967. While there, she volunteered with a group of Brownies for three years. The move to Saskatoon in October 1967 was an adventure that she experienced until retirement in December 1997. Her 30 years at the Alvin Buckwold Center at the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon was the best career experience for which she could have wished. The Centre is a diagnostic, assessment and treatment centre for children with mental and physical disabilities. Over the years she met many people and their families and worked with the best of colleagues. The Centre had a special project in Vilnius, Lithuania from October 1994 to May 1997 and she was able to make a visit there during this time. The project was the highlight of her career. Donna spent almost 50 years at her summer cabin at Coteau Beach on Lake Diefenbaker, SK and many winters were spent in Ajiji, Mexico as well as adventures to England, Scotland, Lithuania, USA and Canada - Donna loved adventure and met many friends on her travels. She will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved her.

Donations in memory of Donna may be directed to the Alex Ositis Foundation, P.O. Box 1251, Rosetown, SK, S0L 2V0.

A day celebrating Donna on what would have been her 86th birthday, Sunday, June 1, 2025 will begin with a graveside service at 1:00 p.m. at the Zealandia Cemetery (one mile south of Zealandia on the Sovereign grid) followed by a luncheon at the Rosetown Elks Hall at 2:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Donna’s family wishes to thank you all for celebrating her life with us.