Donna D. (Mundrick) Handley

ELKHART: On May 17, 2023, Donna D. Handley, 84 (nèe Mundrick), passed away at her home surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and friends. She was a wonderful mother who was always there when her family needed her. She was a well-loved member of the community in Elkhart, IN. Donna was a retired LPN and spent many years working in various nursing homes. She used to love having her daughter, Lynnette, bring in kittens for the elderly to hold and pet.

Donna was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania on Nov. 7, 1938, although she swore they got her birth certificate wrong and was really born in 1939 and was actually a year younger. In 1956, she graduated from Williamsport High School. A few years later on Sept 12, 1959, she married Richard Handley while he was a pre-ministerial student attending Lycoming College.

She enjoyed eating potato chips & drinking caffeine free diet Pepsi while watching her favorite soap operas (which were many), and Love Connection. Often times, Donna could be found playing her favorite arcade game, Mrs. Pac Man, and enjoying ice cream down at the local Seven Eleven when taking a late night breather. Her hobbies included reading, playing cards, cooking (esp. church cookbooks), and throwing away her husband’s numerous gardening catalogues, which she claimed, "He doesn't need all of them." She was extremely active in the Episcopal church for over 30 years. She especially loved vacation bible school and putting on a puppet play for the children.

In later years, she enjoyed going out to Hacienda with her co-workers to laugh, chat, and drink margaritas.

Mrs. Handley is preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. Dr. Richard J Handley, her mother Betty Croteau, and her brother, Timothy Croteau. She is survived by her daughters, Sharon Leazenby, Cyndi Handley, Jennifer Cox, & Lynnette Herrera; son Richard Handley; son-in-law, Gary Cox; her sisters, Candy Rooke and Susan Croteau; and her sisters-in-law, Barbara Croteau and Nancy Morgans. Donna has six grandchildren, Kurt Leazenby, Garrick and Jillian Cox, Grace Handley, Leif and Aleena Herrera, all of whom she loved and touched deeply.

Please join us in celebrating her life on Wednesday May 24 at 1:00 p.m., with visitation beginning at 11:00 a.m. until service time at New Hope United Methodist Church 28765 Co Rd 4, Elkhart, IN. Pastor Sarah Miller will officiate. She will be laid to rest next to her husband, Richard, at Carleton Cemetery. Donations to Donna's memory can be made to Elkhart County Humane Society and the Alzheimer's Association. Arrangements are under the care of Billings Funeral Home, where condolences may be made online at www.billingsfuneralhome.com.

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