Donna Z. Macha, age 91 of Ithaca, Michigan died peacefully February 18, 2013 at Schnepp Health Care Center in St. Louis, Michigan.
Donna was born in Gratiot County on September 28, 1921, the first-born child of Zelma (Cochran) and Milo Gabrion. At the tender age of 17, she married Edward Macha on June 24, 1939 and had celebrated 69 years of marriage at Ed’s passing in 2008. To this union was born one daughter, Linda (Bob) Monroe of Ithaca.
Donna and Ed lived most of their married life in Gratiot County and Donna enjoyed her life as a homemaker and mother, but often told Linda that some of her happiest years were those of grandmother to Scott, Jennifer, and Mark Monroe. She was well known for her delicioius baked goods and Ed liked to show off her skills by taking cookies to their favorite auctioneers the Glardons, inviting his customers from his garage business in for his scheduled coffee breaks and rewarding the county workers for plowing out his half mile road in winter so customers could get in. Donna really had the gift of hospitality.
Her love of children spread to the family of Walter Zimmerman for whom Ed worked for many years. Freida invited Donna and Linda along when she took the children on vacations up north and Donna would help her at home with ironing and housecleaning.
Thanks to her beloved sister, Doris and LeRoy Martin, she was able to enjoy her nieces and nephews Lorraine, Jack, Stan, Laura, and Ellen Martin and spread her love of children around some more.
Her younger brother, Gerald (Marge) Gabrion of Charlotte survives her as does his daughter Larri Gabrion.
Donna is also survived by the children of Ann and Louis Macha, her nieces Mary (Gordon) Lindsay, Marla Macha, Marcia (Jim) McDaid; nephews David (Kay) Macha, Dennis (Mardee) Macha, Dan (Patty) Macha, and Don Macha and their families.
She was preceded in death by her husband Ed, sister Doris and LeRoy Martin, brothers-in-law Louis and wife Ann and Leo Macha. Also a favorite niece Lori Linn Gabrion.
A private family memorial will be held at a later date. Donations may be made to the Ithaca Food Pantry or Commission on Aging.
The family is being served by the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.bardenfuneralhome.com.