Donna J. Abbott

     Donna J Abbott passed away January 30, 2024, in Joliet, Illinois.  

     Donna Jean Bailey was born on June 24, 1935, in Green Valley, Illinois to Roy and Lottie (Goodwin) Bailey.  She attended school in Green Valley and graduated as a salutatorian in 1953.  She then attended the Methodist School for Nursing in Peoria and graduated in 1956. Her nursing career began at Pekin Hospital alongside her Aunt Mabelle Bailey Bishop.  Donna married Alvin R. Abbott, the pastor for the Green Valley Presbyterian Church, December 16, 1956.  In 1963, Al received a call to the Presbyterian Church in Clinton, IL.  She provided private nursing to community members.  Al received another call to a church in Joliet, IL in January 1969.  So, once again, she packed up the family and moved north.  She continued her nursing career at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Joliet where she retired in 1998.

     Donna was involved in many activities with the church-the BYKOTA circle, as a deacon, a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Wanderers (a camping club). When the church had their sales, she could be found in her kitchen baking dozens of cookies to donate.  She and Al were big PBR fans and traveled around the country to various rodeos.   Many vacations were also spent on the road in their camper with family members-visiting places from coast to coast (and up to Alaska!).  She and Al also had a camper site at Leisure Lake Resort in Joliet where they spent a lot of time in the summer.  Donna loved watching the PBR contests, various murder mysteries and ice-skating shows.   

     She is survived by her three children, Alvin Jr (Carol), Bradley (Deb) and Chrystal (Tom) Abbott-Ronchetti; her three grandsons, Alvin R Abbott III, Derik Abbott and Thomas Ronchetti Jr; and one brother-in-law, George Abbott (Carol) and one sister-in-law, Carolyn Abbott along with many relatives throughout the country. 

     Preceding her in death were her husband, Alvin Abbott; her parents, Roy & Lottie Bailey; her sister Alberta Goetze and her husband Duane; brother Jerome Bailey and brothers-in-law Wayne and Richard Abbott.

    Memorial Service will be held Monday, February 5, 2024 at 11:30 at Westminster Presbyterian Church 1015 Winthrop Ave. Joliet.   Visitation Monday morning at church from 9:30 a.m. until time of services.

 In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Donna’s memory to Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care 250 Water Stone Cir, Joliet, Illinois 60431 or Westminster Presbyterian Church 1015 Winthrop Ave, Joliet, IL 60435.