"Donahue Family, I was sorry and shocked to hear about Nancy?s passing. I was going through a box of old letters and Christmas cards and came across one from Nancy. I looked her up to see if we could reconnect and I saw her obituary. I know Nancy from St Viator school, where Brad and my son Nick went to school together. We visited her once in Wisconsin. I still have the wheelbarrow that I bought from Nancy when you guys were moving to Wisconsin. We are still in Chicago, but will be moving to Montana, not too far from where Nancy?s brother lives. I?m so sorry for your loss. Nancy and I shared many happy times together when our boys were young. Barb Puczkowskyj "
In loving memory of
Nancy L. Donahue
September 23, 1952 - January 10, 2022
Nancy Lynn Kurth Donahue died on January 10, 2022, in her home in Madison, Wisconsin at age 69 after almost nine years of interstitial lung disease. Nancy was born September 23, 1952, in Kankakee, Illinois to Lyle Ernst Kurth and Edyth Schnetzler Kurth as the youngest of five children. Nancy married (Robert) Paul Donahue on February 18, 1982, in Champaign, Illinois while she completed her undergraduate degree in educational psychology at the University of Illinois. Nancy earned a master's degree in Education from The University of Wisconsin LaCrosse in May 2005. She later studied in the PhD program at the University of Wisconsin Madison School of Education C&I.
Nancy was in the care of her husband Paul while enrolled as a patient with Agrace Home Hospice for about the final three years of her life. Nancy was intelligent, determined, and passionate. Nancy was sensitive, a deep thinker, as well as highly intuitive and understood people at their core. Nancy especially loved children and was a strong advocate for those with learning challenges. Her pal Joe, a rescue cat, was by her all the time until he succumbed to disease in the summer of 2021. Nancy created a preschool in her home when her two sons were little, then later went on to teach in Preschools, and eventually became Director of a school for kids with learning disabilities. Nancy was a mixed media artist and showed in art fairs and her local public library. Nancy enjoyed watching movies (Fargo was a favorite), listening to music, and meditating. She often listened to Enya, Philip Glass, and Erik Satie.
Nancy is survived by her loving and grateful husband (Robert) Paul Donahue, sons Bradley Paul Donahue (Cora) and granddaughter Violet and Mark Benjamin Donahue (Lauren) and grandson Liam. Her brother Richard Kurth lives in Whitefish, MT with wife Marti. Nancy dearly loved her grandchildren and will miss the arrival of two more this spring.
One of the hardest aspects of her disease was not being able to care for and play with her grandbabies on the floor.
Nancy will be sorely missed by those who knew her. Many people have said that Nancy changed their life.
The family wishes to thank Agrace Home Hospice for their dedication to patient care and comfort and for staying with the family for a very long time. The staff at Agrace allowed Nancy to be her own boss and self-directing, as this was important to her. Anna's Compassionate Care provided in-home care in the final few months of Nancy's life.
Contributions may be made in Nancy's honor to the Madison Cat Project, a private, 501(c)3 organization of people who save cats.
Fly Nancy, fly!
Informed Choice Funeral
& Cremation Alternatives
3325 E. Washington Ave. Madison
(608) 249-6758
Tributes
"My sister Nancy was a wonderful human being. And still is a beautiful soul right now. She was the fifth of five children and I was the fourth, just 3 years older than her. As kids we often played together, inventing our own games, and just being silly together. She was fun and funny, intelligent, wise and talented in many ways. And she and I sure loved our cats! Her husband Paul is a good and kind person who deeply loves Nancy, as she does him. My wife Marti and I are very much looking forward to him visiting us later this year. I am late in reaching out to their children, Brad and Mark, but will soon. I have a few photo scans to send them. Thank you for being my sister and good friend Nancy. I will always love you and will never forget you. Rich"
"Paul this is a beautiful story about Nancy and her loving and giving heart. Thank you for sharing it! As you move through this time of missing her, know that she is still with you...her vibration is strong and she will continue to guide you from her place as a non-physical being.
Please continue to reach out to us...we understand that loss can be very dark sometimes...we are always here to offer our support and share some happier moments about Nancy and her sense of humor. Much love to you and your sons and their families! -- Marti "