On Monday, May 5, 2025, Donna W. Bourassa of South Burlington passed away surrounded by immediate family after a long battle with dementia and ongoing declining physical health. Donna was 84, just 23 days shy of her 85th birthday. She is survived by her husband Roger L. Bourassa, her six children; Renee B. Poley, Michelle Bourassa Stahl, Roger W. Bourassa, Paul Bourassa, Nicole Bourassa, and Joseph Bourassa, 10 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her parents Oscar and Viola (Harju) Witham, her sister Sharon (Witham) Graves, and her brother Dale Witham.

Donna Jewel Witham was born on May 28, 1940 in South Paris, ME, the eldest of Oscar's and Viola's three children. She graduated from Burlington High School in 1958 and married Roger L. Bourassa on June 8, 1961. She was a multi-talented powerhouse of a woman; first and foremost, a giver.

Donna was a vibrant giving person, with an adventurous spirit, natural athletic and artistic abilities, creative, and always active in her community. In high school she was captain of the drum majorette team, a life-guard and swim instructor at the Essex town pool (she loved the water and the sun!), and was crowned the Dairy Queen in 1958. She met the love of her life in the summer of 1958, when Roger spotted her across the street waiting for the bus in Winooski while home on leave and was fortunately with a friend who knew her from a class and introduced them. They corresponded throughout her first year at Concordia College in Bronxville, NY and his deployment with the Marines, fell in love, and were married in 1961, thus beginning their life adventure together.

While finishing his own education at UVM and training with the Air Force, Roger and Donna began a family, with the birth of six children through the 60s. Roger's career and duties took them zig-zagging across the country, and Donna happily assumed the role of the loving, giving, supportive wife and mother to their growing family. This included flying solo with their first child and pregnant with the second to meet up with Roger in California and epic road trips in a VW bus as they travelled to various destinations to meet Roger's career obligations, with some longer stays in Ballston Spa and Schenectady, NY and Montgomery, AL.

Settling in Maine in 1970, Donna dug into the communities over the six years they lived there, starting in Bangor, then Stetson, and finally Strong. She was a 4-H organizer, school board member, active church member and choir director, and participated in various children focused organizations. In Strong, the family joined the working ski co-op at Titcomb Mountain where Donna not only taught her kids to ski, but was an active contributor to the co-op. During these years, they also began summer camping, boating, and waterskiing adventures with their young family with Donna organizing food and gear for the family. Donna was talented at backing up the bus and boat trailer at the boat launch, straight every time. She was also the preferred captain by her children and was the first to get up on one ski. She and Roger named the boat "Friendship 8".

Roger's career and their desire to be closer to family moved them to Randolph, Vermont in 1976. Once again, Donna, with grace and grit, adapted to their new community and home. As if raising six children was not enough, she went to work full-time, first as a teacher's aid and then as the Administrative Assistant to the President of VT Castings. She continued her community engagement as well: 4-H leader, bowling in the local league, active participant in the town's musical community (the Randolph Singers), appearing in several musicals over the years, and more. The family continued their camping and water adventures too, often returning to the Maine coast, whether it was for a week of camping at Hermit's Island or a day trip to Ogunquit, Donna's favorite beach; she loved the ocean, the sand, and the sun. In VT, the family's winter skiing activity transitioned from downhill to cross-country much to the children's dismay but still often done as a family activity. And the speed boat they had in Maine? Sold and two canoes were purchased. Sigh. The children adapted, albeit reluctantly, with Donna and three kids in one canoe, and Roger and three kids in the other. The adventures continued.

Eventually, with an empty nest, as their children headed to college and beyond, Roger and Donna settled in Chittenden county and she started her last term of employment with Gallagher, Flynn,& Company. Donna also continued her community engagement, mostly with Community Lutheran Church in South Burlington, the church of her youth. Donna also began to spend more time with her parents, sister, and niece. She made many trips to their home in Georgia and especially enjoyed time with them at Lake Lanier.

Through the many moves, Donna always made each house a home no matter the anticipated length of stay. She had a great aesthetic for interior space and design and was a self-taught (before the days of YouTube!) painting and wallpapering expert resulting in beautiful spaces on a shoestring budget. Donna was also an accomplished seamstress, making everything from clothing to Halloween costumes to gifts. This led to quilting in her later years where she created elaborate quilts, wall hangings and more. She was also a crafter and each home was well-decorated for various holidays with Christmas being her favorite. Donna had an exceptional eye for classic elegant Christmas decorations, decorating wreaths and garlands, making each home magical during the holidays. During their time in Alabama, Donna even made a life-sized Christmas tree out of cardboard due to the expense of purchasing a live tree. Donna's last artistic endeavor was folk art painting where she excelled at creating various pieces of art that decorated her and her children's homes. Donna's longest pursued creative activity was cake decorating starting with her children's many birthday cakes with her skills improving each year leading to multi-tiered banquet, wedding, and anniversary cakes for family, friends, and school and community organizations. In keeping with her giving nature, Donna never charged for her time, just the cost of the ingredients. Over the years she collected cake pans that filled multiple cupboards, had drawers of frosting tips and bags, and there was always a supply of cake scraps and containers of frosting in the fridge.

Though Donna was not fond of cooking, she fed her family a healthy diet, much supplied by large vegetable gardens planned and tended in partnership with Roger. She learned to can, freeze, and store excess produce, skills she passed onto her daughters. She made a mean pork roast and Saturday night was always beans and hotdogs. Donna loved a slice of VT cheddar cheese under her beans and French's mustard on her hotdogs.

Donna loved music and had a beautiful alto voice. She sang in various church choirs and community music groups, and often spearheaded neighborhood Christmas carolling. Donna was a frustrated pianist and insisted that all of her children have one year of piano lessons and then supported the rest of their musical endeavors including guitar, band instruments, and high school chorus. This led to many family recitals and sing-alongs over the years, generating lots of laughter and love.

With Roger's work schedule, Donna was her childrens' number one fan during their extra-curricular activities This included attending every cross-country meet, baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, and field hockey game, band and chorus concert, 4-H fair and horse shows. She always showed up and went the extra mile for both her children and the team. This also included supporting each child on their morning paper routes at one time or another. Donna, along with Roger, instilled in the children, a work ethic, responsibility, and an element of community service. She also, with a wink and a nod, instilled the fun side of life.

Donna suffered varied health challenges over the years, including a life-altering accident in 1997 that precipitated her slow decline in her later years. Despite these challenges, she persevered, always rising to the occasion as the family matriarch, continuing to give and put others first. She and Roger enjoyed some vacations in Quebec and the Maine coast, and drives around the Vermont countryside, one year spontaneously taking glider rides over the beautiful autumn mountain side.

Donna gave to those she loved to the end. She never wanted to put anyone out, to be a burden, to become an obligation. She was always thinking of others first. Her time for peace and rest has come at last. Donna's contributions to her family, friends, and all the communities she lived and worked in will be remembered always.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 4:00 PM with a visitation to follow until 6:00 PM at LaVigne Funeral & Cremation Service, 132 Main St. Winooski, VT.