Obituary of Donna Jean Thornton
THORNTON, Donna Jean (nee Glen)
Peacefully on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at Kingston General Hospital, in her 76th year with her family by her side. Loving wife of Dr. Daniel B. Thornton. Beloved mother of Allison and Shannon Smith; step-mother of Amelia Thornton and Tara (Ryan) Adams. Adoring grandmother of Michelyn Smith, Cooper Adams and Abby Adams. Dear daughter of the late Dr. Frederick Glen and Elvira Glen; sister of the late June (Bill) Rispin, Dorothy Anne (Harry) Daniel and Joyce Walker. Survived by sisters Heather (Clifford) Arnott, Lynn (Peter) Lingard and brother-in-law, Dr. George Walker. Beloved Aunt to numerous nephews and nieces. Dear friend of Mary Carnie, Joan Macintosh, Joan Goodall and the cherished members of her Kingston quilters group.
After high school in Chatham, Ontario, Donna graduated from Teachers College at Western University and was a dedicated mentor to hundreds of children at Clarkson Public School in Mississauga. On retiring in 1989, she married Dan. Soulmates, they rejoiced in traveling the world together, living for extended periods in Washington, DC, Hong Kong, Brussels, Vancouver and Calgary but always returning to Kingston where Dan is a professor at Queen's University.
Urbane in deportment even as she battled cancer, Donna gave unconditional love to family, friends and caregivers. A memorial reception in celebration of Donna's life will be held in the RECEPTION AND CELEBRATION CENTRE of JAMES REID FUNERAL HOME, 1900 John Counter Boulevard, Kingston, on Saturday, March 31 between the hours of 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm. (Please enter Reception Centre from the rear parking lot). As an expression of sympathy and in lieu of flowers, memorial donations to U.H.K.F. (Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario), or Kingston Humane Society would be appreciated.
