Dona Dee Welch

Dona Dee Welch, 85, of Moline, passed away Monday, December 28, 2020, at Illini Restorative Care Silvis, IL.

Per her wishes, there will be no services.  Private burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery, Macomb, IL.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Quad City Animal Welfare Center, 724 2nd Ave W, Milan, IL, 61264 or Parkinson’s Foundation.  Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., Moline, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Dona was born on November 2, 1935, in Moline, IL, the daughter of Walter Davison and Dorothy Yager Welch.  She attended Moline High School and Western University where she was a member of Pi Kappa Sigma (National:  Sigma Kappa Pi), elected president of her sorority, president of the Panhellenic Council and elected to the Phi Beta Kappa, National Journalistic Fraternity.  She taught school in Hawthorne, CA and retired in 1990 after 33 years of service.  She was a mentor teacher, received the Edward J. Hayduk Award for achievement and excellence in teaching and the Hawthorne Teacher of the Year Award.  She also received the Congress of Parents and Teachers Honorary Service Award and Continuing Service Awards, the Reese Walton Merit Award, the Hawthorne City Council and President’s Council Community Service Award.  She attended LA State, UCLA, USC, and Pepperdine U of C.  She loved to travel, sketch, paint and write.

Survivors include her sister-in-law, Mary Welch, her special cousin and help mate, Debbie Braets; nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and a large extended family; plus her goddaughter, Mother Lioba Postel OSB, Abbey of Regina Laudis, Bethlehem, CT.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, David.

Memories may be shared online by visiting the tribute wall.