Obituary of Donna Joyce Laing

Donna Laing July 1941 – October 2017 It is with great sadness we advise that on October 14, 2017, Donna passed away suddenly at home after a lengthy illness. Donna was a wonderful and loving wife to her husband of 50 years, Bob, mother to Heather (Scott Slywchuk) and Ian (Natasha), and grandmother to Hannah and Sarah. She will be sorely missed. Donna grew up in Saskatoon, where she attended City Park Collegiate. Upon graduation, Donna attended teachers college and subsequently acquired a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan. After teaching at an elementary school in Edmonton for one year, Donna returned to Saskatoon and taught at Haultain School. Upon her marriage in May, 1967 to Bob, they moved to Toronto where Donna taught at an inner city school for three years. In May, 1970 they moved back to Saskatoon. Donna then taught for the next three years at Sutherland School, after which she retired from teaching to become a stay at home mom; but stay at home all the time was not in her nature. Donna subsequently worked part time for Statistics Canada for over 20 years, and enjoyed working part time at her friends’ retail stores at various times including Facemakers, Dena’s, and Rocking Rudolph’s Christmas Store. Donna’s love of fashion was well known, and all family members were well supplied with Christmas ornaments and decorations. Donna was very musical and an accomplished pianist. In her high school years she was the concert pianist for the Saskatoon Lions Band. In later years, she was the pianist for a number of musical productions at College Park School and Evan Hardy Collegiate. Many parties were not complete until there was a sing along with Donna at the piano. Donna’s abundant energy and artistic bent had her engage in a number of crafts including decoupage, quilting, crocheting and cross stitch, the results of which were enjoyed by many family members and friends. But for Donna, above all, was her love for family. Donna was predeceased by her mother and father, Marjorie and Walter Sipko, her brother, Walter Buddy Sipko, and her step-father, Ruben Rumpel. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Karin Sipko, and nephews Jonathan and Matthew, her sister-in-law, Bonnie Laing (Greg Byers), her step brother David Rumpel (Anica), and nephew Adam and niece Abby, and her cousins, Louise Barbonoff and Bob Graham. Her family wishes to acknowledge and thank Donna’s long time family physician, Dr. Florence Wardell, for her compassionate care during Donna’s illness, and thank the Saskatoon Home Care palliative care nurses for the valuable services they provided.