Worcester: Donna (Wait) Cummings, 79, passed away on Sunday, October 15, at the Jewish Healthcare Center surrounded by her loving family. She leaves her beloved husband of 58 years, James Cummings; a daughter Jennifer Cummings Carbonneau & her husband Russell of Worcester; a son Brian Cummings & his wife Julie of Millbury; 4 grandchildren: Dr. Kristina (Cummings) Murray & her husband Dr. Nicholas Murray of Brookfield, Rosalie Powers, Noah Cummings, Alyssa Cummings, all of Millbury; a great-granddaughter Raegan Murray; 2 brothers, Reverend Gary Wait of CT, Douglas Wait & his wife Pearl of NY; a sister, Lynda (Wait) Peavey of Webster; a brother-in-law, John Cummings of CT; and 3 nephews. She was predeceased by a son Howard J. Cummings.
Donna was born in Niskayuna, NY, daughter of the late Ernest and Evelyn J. (Flicker) Wait. She graduated from Burnt Hills - Ballston Lake High School & Ellis Hospital School of Nursing. Donna proudly served her country as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force in South Dakota, worked as a Labor & Delivery Nurse in New York, and then pursued her passion in Gerontology focusing on quality care as the Director of Nursing for various nursing homes in Massachusetts, most notably the Lutheran Home of Worcester, Holden Nursing Center, and Coachlace Healthcare. She also served as the Director of Health and Wellness at the Eisenberg Assisted Living Residence in Worcester for many years prior to retiring. Donna mentored several healthcare professionals throughout her 50+ year career as a Registered Nurse and thought of each one of her team members as part of her own family. She was a longtime member of Epworth United Methodist Church and enjoyed being a member of the church choir, bell choir, and the Deborah Circle woman’s group. She enjoyed spending summers at her camp in Oakham, hosting family gatherings, and most especially cherished her time with her grandchildren & great-granddaughter. She lived a beautiful life and took advantage of every opportunity she could find to be generous, kind, loving, and nurturing to others.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 18, from 4:00-6:00 p.m., followed by a celebration of her life from 6:00-7:00 at Nordgren Memorial Chapel, 300 Lincoln Street, Worcester. In lieu of flowers, donations in Donna's memory may be made to Epworth United Methodist Church, 64 Salisbury Street, Worcester. Donna's family would like to extend its sincere appreciation for the wonderful care provided to her by the Jewish Healthcare Center and the Jewish Healthcare Hospice team. For directions or to leave an online condolence message, please click guestbook link.