Donna Lynn (Suski) Woloshen

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Donna Lynn (Suski) Woloshen, following an intense and courageous battle with pneumonia, at the Minnedosa District Hospital on Saturday, March 29th, 2025.

Donna was born in Neepawa, Manitoba on May 19th, 1959, to parents Alfred and Doris Suski. She attended school in Erickson, MB, and following graduation moved to Winnipeg, MB where she entered the workforce at Deer Lodge Personal Care Home. Following that she worked at various jobs, and for a period of time Donna worked helping her mother Doris at her restaurant - the Arden Ridge. She quickly became friends with all the regulars, they loved her sense of humour and caring nature. Her niece and nephew, Annette and Grant, loved coming to stay at the Ridge, writing all their meal requests on an order pad. No matter how busy it was, she always made time for them and never made them feel like they were in the way. She must have loved working with her Mom, because she also worked at the Southend Restaurant with Doris for a brief time before settling into her career as a Dietary Aide at the hospital and personal care home for over 30 years.  Her love of cooking and caring for others was a natural fit for the Minnedosa Hospital and Personal Care Home, where she worked until her retirement in October 2023. Donna had a special way with the residents, treating them as she would want her own family treated, which was a very high standard. She had endearing nick names for some, she would joke with them, and it is not an exaggeration to say that she truly served their food with love. Donna was that way with everyone she cared about, even people she didn’t know. There were times she would drive around out in the country looking for someone’s animal that was lost after seeing it on social media, just to help. She absolutely loved animals, providing food, shelter and love to many cats and dogs over the years.

Family was everything to Donna. Her nieces and nephews were like her own, and she was so proud of them. She was the silly Auntie who spoiled them all with love (and lots of candy!). Everyone should have an “Auntie Donna”, and a lot of people did, as she was a surrogate Aunt to many. Her generosity spread far and wide, and she would have given her last dollar to someone in need. She was authentic in her actions and words, and you always knew where you stood with her. Jim and Donna loved hosting a Christmas meal for her side of the family each year on Christmas Eve, which was always her family’s Scandinavian tradition. There could be as many as 23 people there, and she loved every minute. She truly believed “the more the merrier” when it came to sharing a meal.

Some of Donna’s many hobbies included gardening, crafting, watching hockey and curling, playing cards, and listening to music. She loved all sorts of music, but her family especially remembers her obsession with Boy George & Culture Club in her younger years.

Donna was reunited with her teenage sweetheart, Jim Woloshen, through his sister Janice. He became the love of her life, and twelve years ago they married. They celebrated their marriage in Cuba, where they travelled often and developed close relationships with some of the locals. Together they enjoyed their travels and a quiet life in the country east of Clanwilliam, MB.

Donna was predeceased by her father, Alfred Suski and mother Doris Suski (Johnson), sister Norma Feser, brother Doug Suski, sisters-in-law Janice Shellborn and Marlane Murray, brother-in-law Richard Woloshen, father-in-law Basial Woloshen, and mother-in-law Sadie McAuley. She is survived by her loving husband Jim Woloshen, sister Wendy (Larry) Spraggs, brother-in-law Ray (Debbie) McAuley, brother-in-law Les (Donna) Woloshen, sister-in-law Val (Danny) Passer, sister-in-law Judy (Darcy) Anderson, stepsons Cody and Lane Woloshen, Cuban Godchild - Liek, aunts, uncles, and many nieces and nephews.

She will be sadly missed by many. Donations may be made in Memory of Donna to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or Minnedosa Palliative Care.

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