Donna Lewis

Heaven gained one of its greatest angels, Donna Jean Lewis, 68, of Cordova, Maryland, who passed away suddenly surrounded by her loving family August 22, 2021. Originally from College Park, Maryland, Donna was born June 11, 1953 to the late Charles and Catherine Thompson. She married the love of her life and best friend, Jerry Lewis, in 1994. Two of her proudest moments in life occurred when she welcomed her two beautiful daughters, Barbie Sisson Rountree and Laurie Sisson Evans, into the world. Her girls blessed her with two amazing sons-in-law, Bobby Evans and RJ Rountree, as well as her whole world, her grandchildren, Brianna Gregory (Nick), Dominic Stedman, Carter Evans, and Casey Evans, and a great-granddaughter, Charlie Kate Gregory (the namesake of Donna’s two wonderful parents).

Donna started working for the Federal Government with the Department of Agriculture upon her graduation from high school. She then worked for the United States Forest Service in Redlands, California before transferring to Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, California. The majority of her federal career was spent at the then Harry Diamond Laboratories, now the Army Research Laboratory, in Adelphi, Maryland, where she worked in Personnel and then as a Human Resource Specialist. Donna paved the way for three generations (her mother, sister, and niece) of her family working at ARL. She also spent time working at the Robert J. Brady Company in Bowie, Maryland.

Donna had a passion for living that many never get to experience in a lifetime. Her numerous family members and friends meant everything to her, and the love, bear hugs, and lipstick kisses she shared with them were truly one-of-a-kind. Donna was everyone’s biggest cheerleader and would give you the clothes off of her back without blinking an eye. She also loved to give gifts, no matter what the occasion.

Aside from her human family, Donna adored and cared for her many cats and dogs over the years. Most recently, dogs Toby and Loki stole her heart and are her and Jerry’s blessed fur babies.

Donna’s strong faith was the cornerstone of her life, and those on her prayer list could be considered blessed beyond measure. She had a special love for saying the rosary and novenas.

Her passing leaves a great void for her family and friends, but her life here on earth was full of memories and experiences that they will cherish forever.

To know Donna was to love her, and we are all better people for having her in our lives.

In addition to her immediate family, Donna is survived by her brothers Ronnie Thompson (Sherry), Chuck Thompson (Sandy), and Paul Thompson (Beth), and her little sister and “MLS,” Teresa Brady (Mark); nieces and nephews Julie, Cindy (Cate), Jeff (Nina), Heather, Brian, Carianne (Mark), Jenna (Anthony), Mark Jr. (Michaela), Katie (Danny), Kristen (Brian), and Amy (Scott); great nieces and nephews Lindsey (Nick), Lauren (Billy), Kate, Reese, Aliyah, Arielle, Ariana, Mackenzie, Camden, Austin, Mason, Michael, Grace, and Ava; mother-in-law Buelah (Mike) Lewis; her Lewis brothers and sisters Valerie Krionderis (Mike), Patricia Lewis-Austin (Randy), Mike Lewis (Carol), and Mark Lewis (Shelley); nieces and nephews Shannon, Justin (Jackie), Kristin, Nicholas, Mike Jr., Andrew, and Brooke; great nieces and nephews Deric, Samuel, Gregory, Carley, and James; a host of cousins including her dear Mary Holt; and many friends including Deb Tilkens, Jean Ingwersen Morgan, and her Fab Five.

Please join us in celebrating her life on Monday, August 30th at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 4902 Berwyn Road, College Park, Maryland, 20740. The viewing will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with the funeral service beginning at 1 p.m. Masks are required at all times.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sarcoma Foundation of America’s Race to Cure Sarcoma in honor of her niece and Goddaughter, Jenna Brady (Donna’s “Penna”). Donna always worked so hard to help raise awareness for this rare disease and was Jenna’s biggest cheerleader. https://p2p.onecause.com/baltimore/team/jogging-for-jenna-2

In honor of Donna’s love for animals, donations may also be made to the Talbot Humane Society at https://www.talbothumane.org.