Mellen, Donna Rae (nee Drexler) Was born July 25, 1937 in Milwaukee, WI to the late Rudolph and Martha Drexler and passed away December 6, 2013 at her home surrounded by her loving family.

Donna graduated from St. Mary Catholic High School in Kenosha, WI in 1956 and St. Therese School of Nursing in Waukegan in 1959.

She worked in Labor and Delivery and taught natural childbirth classes at St. Therese Hospital from 1959 until her retirement in 1996.

Donna has been an active member of St. Patrick Parish in Wadsworth, IL since 1964. She was a Brownie Leader, Teacher's Aide and planned and implemented "Donut Sunday". Donna was a member of the Bingo Committee, Altar and Rosary Society, "Joyful Ring" Bell Choir, a Eucharistic Minister and a member and Treasurer of the Shamrock Club. She was a volunteer at Warren Newport Library in Gurnee, Rolling Hills Nursing Home in Zion and Warren Newport Senior Center.

Donna loved all animals and was an avid birder, a voracious reader and well traveled throughout North America, Hawaii and Australia and cruised through the Panama Canal and the South Pacific. She enjoyed square dancing for many years, was a member and held various positions with the Swingin' Swedes. She was an inspiration to us all by her take charge personality and the way she lived her life. She swam daily at the Centre Club. She was a member of the Friday Morning Breakfast Club and made friends wherever she was and touched people's lives far and wide.

Donna was the beloved wife of William L., whom she married on July 25, 1959; loving mother of Margaret (Daniel) Ellsworth and William A. (Sheri) Mellen; cherished grandmother of Marissa and Nicole Mellen; and dear sister of Karla (James) Kroening, Mary Keane and the late Virginia Clark, Jeanne Clark and Rudolph (Anna) Drexler. Donna is also survived by many nieces and nephews and a host of loving friends. Visitation will be Friday December 13, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. until time of funeral mass 10:00 a.m. at St. Patrick Church, (funeral mass will be in the old church) 15000 Wadsworth Road in Wadsworth. Interment will be private. Donations are encouraged to be given to the Warren-Newport Library Annual Fund, Administration Dept., 224 N. O'Plaine Rd., Gurnee, IL 60031 or the American Cancer Society . Funeral info 847-336-0127 ormarshfuneralhome.com.