Donna Naylor
Bethalto | Friday, December 11 2020 |
Donna Lynn Schroen Naylor loved her friends, her family, her fur babies, and her Lord, and was consequently one of the most cheerful people God ever put on this earth. You could count on her to laugh at your feeblest joke and enthusiastically cheer your slightest success. She died December 11, 2020, having contracted Covid in November.
Donna held a BA and MA in education from Southern Illinois University and taught elementary grades in the Bethalto school district. In 1972, she began her teaching career at Cottage Hills, then taught at Bethalto East until her retirement in 2005. She was an awesome teacher-she loved each and every one of her students and her legacy is the many students whose lives she touched.
Donna was very dedicated to her church, the House of Victory. Pre-Covid she could be found every Thursday at the church Food Pantry, ministering to those in need of groceries or prayers. She also had a passion for Therapy Dogs. She and her husband Larry would take the dogs to libraries and nursing homes in the area so that the people could be comforted by having the dogs near them. She loved to garden, scrapbooking, and books. She was always reading at least one and usually two books at a time.
Donna was born on June 20, 1950, the only daughter of Emil and Fern Schroen of East St. Louis, IL. She was predeceased by her husband of many years, Larry Naylor, and by her nephew, Christopher Schroen, and her fur babies McPherson, Murphy, Myah, Strider, Evelyn and Schaffner. She is survived by her brother, Gary Schroen (Anne) of Alexandria, VA; niece, Jennifer Schroen, of Williamsburg, VA; niece, Kate Schroen Cowell (Matt) and grandniece, Abigail, of Sharpsburg, KY; brother-in-law, Tim Naylor (Lisa) of Brighton; and myriad friends across Southern Illinois who loved her dearly. Given Covid restrictions, the family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to a no-kill animal shelter.
Donna requested to be cremated. A celebration of her life will be scheduled for a later date, so all her friends may laugh and share stories about Donna.
May she rest in peace and rise in glory!
Online condolences and guest book may be found at www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com
Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home
