Donna L. Smith

Visitation for Donna Lea (Eaken) Smith, age 85, will be from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, 201 N. Northwest Hwy, Palatine. IL. Family and Friends will meet directly at St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic Church, 1201 E. Anderson Drive, Palatine, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, for the Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM. The Interment will follow at St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery, Palatine.

Donna passed away peacefully on July 2, 2025, in Palatine, Illinois. Born on January 21, 1940, in Donovan, Illinois, to Leroy and Lena (Buswell) Eaken, Donna's early years were filled with the joys of rural life—county fairs showing Chester White hogs, playing the clarinet, her beloved pony Flicka, and cherished days on the family farm.

After graduating from college, Donna moved to “the city” and began her career as a fifth-grade teacher in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. She found her true professional home at St. Theresa School in Palatine, where she spent many years as a devoted second-grade teacher and later as a dedicated librarian. Her warmth, patience, and deep love for children left an enduring impact on generations of students and colleagues.

Happily married for 55 years, Donna was a loving wife, a steadfast mother, and a doting grandmother. She supported every adventurous path her children took with quiet strength and unwavering encouragement. As a grandmother, she became legendary for her perfect cut-out Christmas cookies and thoughtful, over-the-top care packages.

Her life was rich with friendship and connection. She never missed a birthday celebration, a girls’ trip, or a retired teachers’ gathering. Whether on the tennis court, at book club, or over a competitive game of bridge, Donna nurtured her friendships with joy and intention.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 55 years, Michael Smith; her son Sean Smith and wife Hannah (Alley); her daughter Jennifer (Smith) Rode and husband Joseph; and her treasured grandchildren Julia, Nora, Claire, and Lucy. She is also survived by her sister Doris & husband Gene Regnier, brother William Eaken, sister-in-law Maura Smith, brother-in-law Fred & wife Lana Smith, and beloved nieces and nephews Susan, Paul, Linda, Mark, Steve, Laura, Elizabeth, Theophilus, Lara, Luke, Ryan, and many grand-nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved sister-in-law Susanne Smith and brother-in-law Steve Schapiro.

Donna’s loving heart and generous spirit touched all who knew her. She leaves behind a world brighter for having been in it and a legacy of kindness, laughter, and love.