69, of Florissant was taken through lobular carcinoma on February 8th, 2024, after two-and-one-half years of resistance, to her eternal home with Jesus Christ.
Donna was born on March 24th, 1954, to Cecil and Velma Ritz (née Hughes) of St. Louis. Her father, originally from Licking, MO, and her mother, born in Desloge, MO, preceded her in death. She is survived by a brother, David, a son, Andrew, a daughter-in-law, Chuhua (Flora), a granddaughter, Mackenzie, and a daughter, Allison, who would have preceded her in death if not for more than 25 years of devoted care from Donna. Donna took great pride and joy in her children and granddaughter.
Donna was a graduate of the 1972 class of Riverview Gardens High School and later a student at Florissant Valley Community College in the early 1990s, where she completed core curricula in photography and American Sign Language and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.
Early in her career, Donna held jobs as a bookstore manager, real estate agent, and veterinary technician. Following a hiatus of several years, during which she made a home for her family, she became a photographer, primarily in local schools from 1997 to 2020, after a part-time stint at Glamour Shots in the early 1990s. She was noted for her dedication to excellence, quickly rising to become a manager at Lifetouch after a rookie year in which she won national recognition for the quality of her work. When she changed employers for the final time, thirteen schools came with her, though she was not a salesperson. She had a passion for photographing lighthouses.
Donna regularly appeared on local MDA Telethons from 1988 to 2003 to campaign for funding. Coincidentally, in childhood, she held a backyard carnival at her home for the benefit of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Donna traveled as opportunity presented, including work trips throughout the U.S. and family trips to Florida, Maine, N. Carolina, Hawaii, Alaska, and elsewhere. Later in life, she journeyed to Israel to walk where her Savior walked.
Donna was a member of several St. Louis churches throughout her life, including Fourth Baptist Church, Bellefontaine Baptist Church, Hazelwood Baptist Church, and most recently Forest Park Bible Church. Even as she expressed a desire to keep living, her faith in God became sight much earlier than we hoped.
Her work as a grandmother sadly will go unfinished, but she will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by her family, friends, and many coworkers.
SERVICES: Visitation at Kutis Affton Chapel (10151 Gravois Road St. Louis, Missouri 63123) on Saturday, February 17, 9:00 a.m. until funeral service at 12:00 noon. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in Jennings immediately following. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, earmarked for Spinal Muscular Atrophy research, or Brookes Bible College.
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One of the kindest persons. Donna always thought first about others.
Donna was such a special person. She and I worked together as she photographed the proms and homecoming dances I coordinated. She always greeted the students with a radiant smile and treated them with kindness, her love for photography showing. I’ve missed seeing Donna the last several years. She will be dearly missed.
My heart goes out to her family. Donna was always a sweet and kind person. She always was kind to me. Had have a wonderful since of humor. She will be missed.
My thoughts and prayer are with the family. Donna was one of the 4 musketeers when we all went to Hazelwood Baptist years ago. She was always so fun and loved God and her family fiercely. Even though we hadn’t seen one another for a few years, it was always as if we were not apart. She will be so missed. Mary is there waiting and I’ll see you someday in heaven, Donna.
I remember Donna from high school. She was very very nice and I know she will be missed by all. Sending prayers to her family🙏🙏
Donna was such a bright light during my days of music ministry at Bellefontaine Baptist Church from ’84 – ’86. Bright, happy, smiling, and such an encourager. I remember Donna & Charlie, Andy, Cecil & Velma as integral parts of the church family and they became a vital part of our family! Even though decades had passed since we talked, reconnecting a couple of years ago on Facebook was such a joy and a flood of beautiful memories! I know she’s had her battle for the past few years, but she has conquered the struggle and is now free from the disease that riddled her earthly body and has exchanged it for her heavenly “forever” one, celebrating as she is in the presence of her Savior and with her heavenly family! Donna, you touched so many lives throughout the years, so you may be gone, but as they say, never forgotten. Your legacy will live on for generations through your beautiful spirit that impacted all that were in your presence! Thank you, Jesus, for rescuing Donna from her earthly vessel to be eternally with you!! Blessing to all the family as they continue to grieve and process her absence. May God’s Spirit provide you many days of comfort and sweet memories of the special person we knew as, Donna Reinhart!