Donna Marie Kania-Lachance, 56, of Rochester, MN, died Saturday July 10, 2021 at her home after a long illness.
Donna was born October 16, 1964 in Milwaukee, WI to Dennis A. and Marie (Young) Kania. She attended Catholic schools in Milwaukee and was a 1986 graduate of Alverno College with a degree in nursing. She then followed her passion in nursing in Milwaukee with highlights being her work in pediatric bone marrow transplant. In 1994, she graduated from University of Wisconsin Madison with a Masters in Nursing and began her career as a nurse practitioner in southwest Wisconsin where she was loved and respected. In 2000, her career path moved to Rochester, MN and to the Department of Cardiology at Mayo Clinic where she was a loved and respected member of that team, until 2016 when her illness ended her career that was so important to her.
In 2003, Donna married Daniel H Lachance MD of Rochester, MN. In 2007, they welcomed Nicholas (Nick) D. Kania-Lachance and in 2012 Katherine (Katie) O. Kania-Lachance. Her family was her pride and joy.
Donna had a quick wit and was joy in the company of her friends. She liked fishing as a child and had a passion for pottery in her last years. She loved her dogs and cats, particularly Winston, Coco, and Kooper. She trained Winston as a therapy dog and volunteered with him at Seasons Hospice of Rochester.
She is survived by Daniel, Nick, and Katie, her brother, William, and her mother, Marie, both of Milwaukee, WI.
She was preceded in death by her father, Dennis, and babies, Grace and Anthony Kania-Lachance.
A memorial celebration of Donna’s life will be held at Calvary Episcopal Church in Rochester, MN at 11:00 AM on Saturday July 31, 2021 officiated by Rev. Beth Royalty. There will be an opportunity to greet her family beginning at 9:30 AM at the church. A luncheon will follow at the Hilton downtown Rochester, 10 E Center Street, Rochester, MN 55904. Her ashes will be interred at Oakwood Cemetery in Rochester with her babies, and at St. Adalbert Cemetery in Milwaukee with the Kania family.
Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers to Brains Together For a Cure (brainstogetherforacure.org) or Humor To Fight The Tumor (humortofightthetumor.org) or the Mayo Clinic Neuro-Oncology Program.
Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com
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