Donna was born August 5, 1939, in Burlington, VT to Dorothy (Sweet) Stokes and Dr. James Stokes. Donna attended Passaic Valley High School in Little Falls, NJ where she met her first husband, Alphonse C. Gaita. In 1956 the couple welcomed their only child, James A. Gaita into the world. In 1961 they moved to Singac, NJ to open Gaita Memorial Funeral Home. Donna enrolled in cosmetology school learning the skills to apply make up and hair styling for the deceased. Upon the untimely death of her husband in 1963, Donna enrolled in the American Academy McAllister Institute of New York City, where she earned her Mortuary Science Degree. She then became a licensed mortician in New Jersey. Donna was owner/operator of the funeral home until its sale in 1974.

In 1968 Donna met her 2nd husband, Theodore Breure. They were wed on January 19, 1969, at St. John's Russian Orthodox Church in Singac. They also welcomed one child on June 1, 1970, Mary Elizabeth. The blended family lived in Singac until the sale of the funeral home in 1974. They relocated to Fairfield, NJ, where Donna became a stay-at-home mom and caregiver to her mother, Dorothy, while Ted owned and operated Ted's Living Room, a popular pub on Main Ave. in Clifton.

In 1978, Donna and Ted bought a campground on the shores of Lake Champlain, in Alburg, VT. They operated the business together until their divorce in 1986. Donna, a lifelong learner, had been taking college courses and eventually obtained her master's degree. She became a librarian at Alburgh Elementary School and led after school art programs.

In 1991, Donna married Robert DeGrechie and eventually moved to St. Albans where she volunteered for Meals on Wheels and taught adult art classes for the senior center. She was an avid church goer, participating in as many activities as she could get her hands on. She was a very "busy bee" and loved to share her enthusiasm and intelligence with others. She was a friend to all. Donna was a wonderfully caring woman not only to humans but also her fostered and adopted feline friends of which she had many over the years.

She was an amazing mother, grandmother and great grandmother leaving behind her only son, James Gaita and grandson, Jaxon Gaita as well as Jim's partner, Liosa Coletti and her son Charlie. Also leaving behind her only daughter, Mary Myers and husband Brian Booze, her two granddaughters , Tabitha Myers and Tierra Remillard, Tierra's husband, Kris, his two daughters, Aria and Ainsley and Donna's only great grandson, Noah born to Tierra and Kriss on July 24, 2025.

Funeral services will be held at Corbin and Palmer, 9 Pleasant St, Essex Junction, VT on October 24, 2026, at 11AM.

In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to the Alzheimer's Association or Ethan Allen Residence's Comfort in Every Corner Fund.