It is with deep sadness that we said goodbye on May 13, 2026, to Edna Donovan, who passed away peacefully at 99 years of age in her Newtonville home. Born on February 25, 1927 in New York City, she spent the past 27 years making Massachusetts her home.

Edna was truly one of the most caring and giving individuals this world has ever known. She possessed a rare, gentle soul that accepted and loved everyone exactly as they were, always putting others before herself. Her quiet kindness, gentle humor, and immeasurable love made this world a better, more loving place. She also possessed an incredible fortitude that kept her active and mobile up until the last few weeks of her life; her remarkable resilience and strong spirit made her a rock for so many.

Her heart was boundlessly full, anchored by her deep love for her son, John, whom she treasured more than anything, and his wife, Liza, whom she loved as a daughter. Edna’s life was uniquely enriched by the loving Metraux family, with whom she lived. She first shared her life with her dear friends, Lillian and Russell Menelly, and their daughter, Judith, and son-in-law, Daniel, and later with their grandson, David, his wife, Angela, and their beautiful children, Madeleine, Mila, and Ella. They formed a beautiful family, bringing her immense joy and a precious bond that she cherished deeply.

Throughout her long life, Edna was also a devoted pet mom to many animals, extending her nurturing spirit to every creature around her. She touched countless lives, bringing warmth to everyone who had the honor of knowing her. She leaves behind her beloved son, John, and his wife, Liza, her grandchildren Alex and Elizabeth,  Judith and Daniel Metraux, Katherine Metraux and her husband, Wil Jorae, David and Angela Metraux, and their daughters, Madeleine, Mila, and Ella, her nephew Manny, her sister-in-law, Dorothy, her dear friend, Millie, and her nieces and nephews - Peggy Spring, Joseph Spring, Karen Bartolotta, Maureen McNeil, Jennifer Fowler and their families.

We are profoundly grateful to have had this incredibly giving woman in our lives, and we celebrate a beautiful life truly well-lived. As we honor her now, we know that we are all better for having known her and been a part of her life - a life defined entirely by warmth, devotion, and unconditional love.

Thank you, Mom. We love you, always.