Donna Hamilton

Donna M. Hamilton, 87, of Charlevoix, passed away June 1, 2016. Donna was born March 12, 1929, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Paul and Winifred Cavanagh. Her family moved to Michigan in her early years making their home in Traverse City, Mich., later settling in Lake City, Mich. After graduation from Case-Western University in Ohio, she came to Charlevoix to begin what would be a long career in education. She married Robert Hamilton in 1954, falling in love with her new daughter Chris, and welcoming daughter Judy a few years later. The students she taught over the many years brought joy to her life. Donna retired from the Charlevoix Public School system in 1992. She experienced many great adventures through her love of reading. Her sense of humor and compassion will be missed by her former students, long-time friends, and family. She is survived by her daughters, Judy Lane (Chuck), of Cheyenne, Wyo., and Chris Gengle of Charlevoix, who, she often referred to as “my girls”in her later years; granddaughter, Jennifer Malone (Mark); great-granddaughters, Grace, Audrey, and Margaret Malone of Dearborn, Mich; nieces and nephews, Anne and Paul Cavanagh of Ohio, Wendy and Doug Hord of New York and Texas. She will also be missed by long time family friend Kathy Blechel, of Charlevoix, who considered her a “second mom”. She was predeceased by her parents, an infant son, two sisters and one brother. Donna was a fifty year member of the First Congregational Church in Charlevoix. The family requests remembrance contributions to the Church in lieu of flowers, 101 State Street, Charlevoix, MI 49720. Cremation has taken place, a memorial service will be 11am, Friday, June 24, 2016, at the First Congregational Church in Charlevoix.