CORNISH- Mrs. Donna Ann Day, 77, of Cornish, passed away Monday, April 30, 2018 at Maine Medical Center following a brief illness. Born on November 18, 1940 in Limington, Maine, Donna was the daughter of the late Burton and Mildred (Braley) Libby. The fourth oldest in a family of eleven, Donna was always responsible and unwavering, with an amazing moral compass. She married Francis W. Day in 1962 and they lived in Cornish and raised their two daughters there. Surrounded by wonderful neighbors, they created a childhood for their girls that was almost too good to be true. They shared 56 years of marriage, and when they retired they moved to the Day Family farm on Hessian Hill where they were able to enjoy their vegetable gardens, their many pets and the peacefulness of living in the country. Their marriage provided their daughters with an example of how a husband and wife should respect and love each other.
Donna was very talented and known for her intricate knitting and crocheting. She loved to teach people her craft. Her daughters and grandchildren will always cherish their ‘Nana Day’ blankets. She was also a voracious reader, often re-reading the books that she really loved. While her daughters were young, Donna was able to stay at home with them. When they got older she did work part-time at The Bag Lady store in Cornish where she enjoyed meeting customers from all over who would come into the store. She then worked for the Roes Family Trucking company for several years as their bookkeeper where she became more than an employee, she was a friend. Donna loved her daughters and son-in-law’s very much, and her grand-children were the most important aspects of her life. She was so proud of them all. Nana Day was probably the best Nana that ever existed.
Donna also had very special relationships with two of her nieces. Libbie Romatowski and Leslie Hanson would often spend summers with Donna and her family as teenagers, and she was even able to teach Libbie how to knit and crochet – no small feat. She had a great friendship with her sisters and brothers and a very special friendship with her sister-in-law, Althea Blackie, who was one of her closest confidants. Donna has been described by many as a woman with charm and grace and she handled her last few months with strength and dignity, often giving her family the support that they needed as her illness progressed. Her family is heartbroken.
She was predeceased by her parents and siblings Virginia Rogers, Linda Stanley, Joan Pelkey, Kerry Libby, William Libby, and Robert Libby. She is survived by her husband, her daughters, Shelley A Jewell and her husband Lincoln of Monroe, NH, and Rebecca L Dillon and her husband Michael of Westbrook, ME, her brothers Philip Libby and Larry Libby and her sisters Rosemary Johnson and Jennifer Libby. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren, Tyler, Jacob, and Beckett Jewell, Catherine LaCoss and Seamus and Molly Dillon; along with many loving nieces and nephews.
Her family would like to thank the doctors and staff at Chest Medicine Associates for the great care that they provided her and focus on keeping her comfortable; all of the kind nurse’s and CNA’s who cared for Donna during her long stays at Maine Medical Center; and her palliative care team, especially Ursula. They were all a godsend.
Visiting hours will be held on Sunday May 6 from 5-7 PM, followed by a 7 PM service at the Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home, 71 Maple St, Cornish. Burial will be at a later date. Online condolence messages can be submitted at www.mainefuneral.com
Because of Donna’s love of animals, in lieu of flowers donations may be made to Harvest Hills Animal Shelter, 1389 Bridgton Road, Fryeburg, Maine 04037