Obituary for Donna Mae Tubbs
We, the children of Donna Mae Tubbs, are heartbroken to announce the death of our mother on Sunday 26 June 2016. Following a severe stroke in March of 2015, our mother's final year was for her a difficult struggle of loss, rehabilitation, transition, and transformation, from which both her body and her spirit never truly recovered. Donna has found peace, at last. She has entered the Kingdom of God and is in the presence of her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
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On 19 May 1928, Donna was born the youngest of three children to Laura Mae and Samuel Cruikshank of Curwensville, Pennsylvania. Preceded in death by her parents, brother, and sister, our mother is the last in her family lineage.
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Many times our mother recalled to us with deep fondness the magical childhood she experienced within a loving, nurturing family and a safe and sharing community. Among her most treasured memories was play with friends under the one arc street light on Bloomington Avenue. Our mother's values, beliefs, and strength of character were first shaped within the safety and joys of her childhood. It is sweet to hope that she is running once again with her friends under the arc lamp.
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Our mother and father, Dudley Tubbs, were married on 14 July 1949. Son David was born in 1951, daughter Debra in 1954, and son Dana in 1958. Donna's four grandchildren are Scott and Steven, sons of Dana and wife Pamela, and Sarah and Joshua, children of Debra and husband Jeffrey Sykes. Donna's great grandchildren are Nicholas, Jaidyn, and Allianna, children of Sarah, and Sophia, Cecilia, and Greyson, children of Scott and Danielle Tubbs. Our mother's pride in her lineage cannot be measured within this brief remembrance.
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In the autumn of 1959, our father's job location changed. We said goodbye to our special, little house on Pennsylvania Avenue, which our mother loved and never wanted to leave, and we moved to a farm south of Luthersburg. The remainder of Donna's life was reshaped by this transition. She lived alone on the farm for 56 years after our father's death in 1973 and until her stroke. The isolation and loneliness were hardships for Donna as she aged, yet she would not leave.
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For 28 years, Donna was employed by DuBois Middle School as Attendance Office Administrative Assistant. She was proud of her career, as the perfection of her contributions attested. She reached far beyond her responsibilities to help the students who passed her way and the colleagues with whom she worked. In so doing, she touched and enriched their lives in ways which many remember even today.
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Family and faith were the focal points of our mother's life. To both, she gave her devotion and greatest sacrifices. Our mother's favorite day was Sunday. She loved to teach, most especially both young and adult Sunday schools, beginning as a teenager and continuing until her stroke. Combining her loves of public speaking and teaching, Donna trained and faithfully maintained her certification as a lay speaker within her church community. Donna was proud and honored following her stroke to be made Lay Speaker Emeritus within the United Methodist Church.
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Donna was a self-taught musician, and she played both piano and organ for the Luthersburg Methodist Church. Our mother loved and was thoroughly knowledgeable in classical music.
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Our mother's sharp intellect and warm wit were paired with deeply emotional insight. She loved people. She loved animals. Our mother enriched not only the lives of many dogs and cats that she rescued and nurtured but also her own life by the companionship of the creatures she so loved.
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Our mother strove to offend no one. To this purpose, she chose her words and behavior in the pursuit of kindness and forgiveness. Donna's courage and determination were profound, and no more clearly revealed than in the final year of her life. She treasured her independence. She rarely asked others for help, yet she offered herself generously wherever possible to her family and throughout her community. Our mother was devastated to be robbed by stroke of this independence.
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Funeral Services for Mrs. Tubbs will be held at the Chester C. Chidboy Funeral Home, Inc. in Curwensville, PA on Thursday June 30, 2016 at 11:00 AM, with the Reverend Richard Howe officiating. Interment will be in the Crown Crest Memorial Park in Hyde, PA.
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Friends will be received at the funeral home on Wednesday June 29 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM, and again on Thursday from 10 AM until time of services.
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We, Donna's children, ask that in lieu of flowers, family and friends make donations to serve bother her community and her beloved causes. Most especially, please consider the following organizations: Brady Township Volunteer Fire, Rescue, and Ambulance Company, Inc P.O. Box 157, Luthersburg, PA 15848); and Best Friends Animal Society, a no-kill animal rescue and sanctuary (bestfriends.org, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, UT 84741). Your kindness is all Donna would request, and in this way you.
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Online condolences may be made to the family at www.chidboyfuneralhome.com.
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On 19 May 1928, Donna was born the youngest of three children to Laura Mae and Samuel Cruikshank of Curwensville, Pennsylvania. Preceded in death by her parents, brother, and sister, our mother is the last in her family lineage.
Â
Many times our mother recalled to us with deep fondness the magical childhood she experienced within a loving, nurturing family and a safe and sharing community. Among her most treasured memories was play with friends under the one arc street light on Bloomington Avenue. Our mother's values, beliefs, and strength of character were first shaped within the safety and joys of her childhood. It is sweet to hope that she is running once again with her friends under the arc lamp.
Â
Our mother and father, Dudley Tubbs, were married on 14 July 1949. Son David was born in 1951, daughter Debra in 1954, and son Dana in 1958. Donna's four grandchildren are Scott and Steven, sons of Dana and wife Pamela, and Sarah and Joshua, children of Debra and husband Jeffrey Sykes. Donna's great grandchildren are Nicholas, Jaidyn, and Allianna, children of Sarah, and Sophia, Cecilia, and Greyson, children of Scott and Danielle Tubbs. Our mother's pride in her lineage cannot be measured within this brief remembrance.
Â
In the autumn of 1959, our father's job location changed. We said goodbye to our special, little house on Pennsylvania Avenue, which our mother loved and never wanted to leave, and we moved to a farm south of Luthersburg. The remainder of Donna's life was reshaped by this transition. She lived alone on the farm for 56 years after our father's death in 1973 and until her stroke. The isolation and loneliness were hardships for Donna as she aged, yet she would not leave.
Â
For 28 years, Donna was employed by DuBois Middle School as Attendance Office Administrative Assistant. She was proud of her career, as the perfection of her contributions attested. She reached far beyond her responsibilities to help the students who passed her way and the colleagues with whom she worked. In so doing, she touched and enriched their lives in ways which many remember even today.
Â
Family and faith were the focal points of our mother's life. To both, she gave her devotion and greatest sacrifices. Our mother's favorite day was Sunday. She loved to teach, most especially both young and adult Sunday schools, beginning as a teenager and continuing until her stroke. Combining her loves of public speaking and teaching, Donna trained and faithfully maintained her certification as a lay speaker within her church community. Donna was proud and honored following her stroke to be made Lay Speaker Emeritus within the United Methodist Church.
Â
Donna was a self-taught musician, and she played both piano and organ for the Luthersburg Methodist Church. Our mother loved and was thoroughly knowledgeable in classical music.
Â
Our mother's sharp intellect and warm wit were paired with deeply emotional insight. She loved people. She loved animals. Our mother enriched not only the lives of many dogs and cats that she rescued and nurtured but also her own life by the companionship of the creatures she so loved.
Â
Our mother strove to offend no one. To this purpose, she chose her words and behavior in the pursuit of kindness and forgiveness. Donna's courage and determination were profound, and no more clearly revealed than in the final year of her life. She treasured her independence. She rarely asked others for help, yet she offered herself generously wherever possible to her family and throughout her community. Our mother was devastated to be robbed by stroke of this independence.
Â
Funeral Services for Mrs. Tubbs will be held at the Chester C. Chidboy Funeral Home, Inc. in Curwensville, PA on Thursday June 30, 2016 at 11:00 AM, with the Reverend Richard Howe officiating. Interment will be in the Crown Crest Memorial Park in Hyde, PA.
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Friends will be received at the funeral home on Wednesday June 29 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM, and again on Thursday from 10 AM until time of services.
Â
We, Donna's children, ask that in lieu of flowers, family and friends make donations to serve bother her community and her beloved causes. Most especially, please consider the following organizations: Brady Township Volunteer Fire, Rescue, and Ambulance Company, Inc P.O. Box 157, Luthersburg, PA 15848); and Best Friends Animal Society, a no-kill animal rescue and sanctuary (bestfriends.org, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, UT 84741). Your kindness is all Donna would request, and in this way you.
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Online condolences may be made to the family at www.chidboyfuneralhome.com.
To plant a tree in memory of Donna Mae Tubbs, visit the Tribute Store.
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