About Donna
What I am about to present to you are words and thoughts Donna wanted me to share with all of you gathered here today. That’s right Donna helped write her eulogy only as Donna could!
Donna was the oldest of four children and the daughter of Arnold “Frosty” and Ruth Frost. Donna grew up in Milton, was an excellent student, was a friendly funny kid who developed lifelong friends while hanging out at Pagoda Circle and in the Milton School system. Donna was a generous person, Daughter, Sister, Friend, Nurse, a Breast Cancer and Parodied Cancer Survivor, a Warrior, and a Hero! Donna was a religious and spiritual person who loved to help others and to see the best in each and everyone of us!
Unfortunately diagnose with ALS Lou Greig’s Disease when symptoms started April 2019 and was diagnosed by a gene test. It started as weak foot at the gym and progressed over the next several years. Donna liked to find a moment of joy such as a picture, a phone call from a friend, a bird, a joke and anything that would make her smile or laugh. Donna loved to live her life and boy did she making the most of it!
Donna loved the ocean and the beach from the time we were kids going to Southie (Kelly’s Landing and Castle Island) and vacationing on Manomet beach. As Donna would say “The Beach is my happy place”. Donna had lots of funny side stories with many of you here today and as she would say “I liked to live my life even on the bad days.”
Funny Donna
Donna had a knack of laughing all the time which was contagious no matter the time of day or place. I am sure all of you have had many of those funny moments with Donna. We relived many of those funny moments with Donna and there is one that stands out when we were teenagers that is worthy to share today. Donna and I took ski lessons at Blue Hills and after being dragged up the hill literally by the J bar, Donna covered in snow head to toe and laughing all way. She started to head down the bunny hill which was literally a sheet of ice. Now out of control heading in the direction of our French speaking ski instructor who was dressed in a purple Gucci ski suit and who apparently forgot about Donna. Not sure why he forgot about Donna perhaps it was because it took her 15 mins to get up the hill trying to figure out how to use that J bar who knows. Now the stage is set and the French Ski Instructor was up the hill facing down towards his 20 plus ski students not realizing Donna was behind him barreling down the hill at a high rate of speed. Then as we all watched in awe as Donna blindsided the French ski instructor and dragged him down the hill right past his students. All we could hear was something that sounded like someone gargling and trying to speak in French at the same time and Donna laughing out of control as they tumbled past us.
Travel
Donna and Bill loved to travel to Turks and Caicos and in her words “Was My Heaven”. That is where she found out about ALS. Donna had many travel experiences traveling the world such as back packing across Australia on her own and yes making more lifelong friends.
A Nurse
Donna spent 35 years at Massachusetts General Hospital as a caring Nurse and Nurse Practitioner. Donna had vast experiences with all kinds of patients and would share those incredible heart-breaking stories. Donna would say “Life has been hard but absolutely wonderful and I am blessed to have been able to pursue a career in nursing”. Donna refers to her colleagues at Baker 10, Ellison 7 and 16 and the Board as angels and she loved each and every one of them. Donna would love to mention all of their names but we would be here for a week and they are all lifelong friends. Donna’s funny sense of humor seemed to kick off at a certain time of the day and her fellow nurses would say “After 3 PM it’s Donna Time!” Even Steven Tyler from the rock band Aerosmith called Donna an angel one time as a patient. As Donna said “Sue me HIPPA!”
Family
As kids we spent a lot of time with my Mum’s family the Cunniff’s, Aunt Pat and Uncle Jimmy, and the Downey’s. Uncle Jimmy gave Donna advice when she was 10 years old to have PMA! (Positive Mental Attitude) and that stuck with Donna the rest of her life. Donna had many funny and everlasting memories with the Cunniff girls and the Downey’s too. On my father side, the Frost’s get togethers at Thornley St. Dorchester for holidays and Sunday dinners generated found memories with the Sullivan’s, Hunter’s, Hogrimson’s, and Jacklin’s too.
As Donna stated; “Heroes as a kid were my brothers Bobby, Stevie, sister Ginger and my Ma was number one.” When we were kids, we would love to call our Ma Ruthie Boothie and when we did, Ma would chase us around the house pretending to be upset so the name stuck. Our Dad loved his pristine 1970 Black Cadillac Deville that we called Cadu -Wack and that was way to tease him. I can hear Donna laughing now as I say this!
Donna loved her family Dad, Ma, Bob, Steve, Ginger, our dogs Lance and Buddy, nephew Michael, nieces Kelly and Lilly and countless relatives.
Billy Grew
Donna truly loved her husband Bill Grew. Billy was special to Donna from the first time they met at wedding and were best friends from that time forward. They spent 23 years together that started in Somerville and yes more lifelong friends along the way. Billy was there through all of Donna’s challenges which included cancer two times and ALS. Billy was Donna’s hero who was always cleaning up after her with is customized dust buster and guiding her along the way. They would eventually buy a home on Cape Cod and get married. Donna loved to tease Bill and would call him silly names such as; Billy Bob, Bill, Bill Take a Pill, and her favorite was My name is Bill I can’t sit still. When Donna and Billy traveled a lot and yes Donna met many lifelong friends on these trips and some of these friends are here today. While on their last trip to Turks and Caico, Bill who was suffering from pre-Hip surgery holding his cane, Donna was being assisted with a parade of new lifelong friends she just met. Donna was carrying Bills 30 pack of Bud Light which turned out to be a big mistake. On queue Donna fell off the curb and drop Billy’s 30 pack into oncoming traffic which included out control cars and scooters. Billy saved the day and grab the 30 pack while three angles lifted Donna to safety. Bill was a great husband and was willing to do anything he could to help Donna and loved her very much!
Words to Live By
Donna wanted to share these inspirational words to live by:
- PMA Positive Mental Attitude!
- We leave off where we left off!
- Meeting a fiend coincidentally is God’s way of being anonymously!
- Harvard Gardens Rocks, Nurses are the best and the two are a great mix!
- I added one to the list called Donna Do – Donna lived by humble beginnings and did not know the words I Can’t. So, if you run into a life challenge use the words Donna DO! Knowing there is always a way to get though life’s hardest challenges do what Donna did. Donna DO!
Donna had a tough life and had many struggles but she loved life, lived her life and as she said “It was All Worth It!”
Donna Elaine Frost – She needed a hero and that is what she became! My family and I find peace and solace in the fact that Donna is pain free and is now reunited with many lost loved ones in heaven.
Thank you!