Donna M. Adair

Donna Marie Adair, age 56, of Chardon, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on Feb. 5, 2025, at David Simpson Hospice House in Cleveland. She was born on June 20, 1968, in Chardon, OH to James and Palma (nee: Scicolone) Adair. What would become Donna’s life work took root in her childhood through her years at St. Mary School in Chardon and in her Girl Scout troop, where she achieved its highest honor, the Gold Award. Donna developed an early awareness of the need for charity and justice in the world. After graduating from Notre Dame Academy in 1986, Donna pursued her passion, studying international affairs and graduating from The George Washington University in Washington D.C. in 1990. Donna spent the next decade working various roles in international travel and development before settling into the role which would define her life’s passion, working at Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Donna would spend the next two and a half decades working for the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community, helping to alleviate suffering and providing assistance to those in need across the globe. Donna spent time living in the Baltimore/D.C area before moving back to Northeast Ohio, and eventually back to the place of her birth, Chardon, the town she was fiercely proud of. In adulthood, Donna became a most trusted companion to her parents and the three found immense joy in each other’s company while enjoying dining and travel experiences together. Outside Donna’s professional life, her greatest joy could be found in her connection with family. Oldest sister to seven siblings, Donna was a true shepherdess to her sister and six brothers. However, Donna’s greatest pride in life was her role as cherished aunt to two generations of nieces and nephews. One could not ask for a more doting aunt. No occasion, birthday, graduation, faith celebration, ever lacked a handwritten card from Aunt Donna. Aside from a lifelong deep and personal faith, those who knew Donna well appreciated her love of anything purple, British royal news, hot gossip, and her recent discovery of birdwatching from her home office. Donna’s loving spirit is carried on by her parents, James and Palma Adair, her sister Ann (Michael Zickert) Adair, brothers, James (Lisa) Adair, Thomas (Sarah) Adair, John (Trisha) Adair, Joseph (Rachel) Adair, Robert (Michelle) Adair, Timothy (Rita) Adair; along with her nieces and nephews, Andrew (Nicole) Chesler, Emilie (Gabi) Barth, Clare Chesler, Matthew Adair, Jack Adair, Isabella Adair, TJ Adair, Molly Adair, Audrey Adair, Giuliana Adair, Lawrence Adair, Thomas Adair, Libby Adair, Lucy Adair, Jimmy Adair, William Adair, Wyatt Adair, Bridget Adair, and Benjamin Adair; and great niece and nephews Charlotte Barth, Theodore Barth, and Owen Chesler. Preceding her in peace were her grandparents Frank and Ann Adair and Cy and Mary Scicolone. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10am on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, at The Church of St. Mary, 401 North Street, Chardon, OH with burial to follow at All Souls Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3pm to 6pm on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, at the Potti & Marc F. Burr Funeral Homes 126 South Street, Chardon and again from 9am to 10am at the church on Monday Morning. Donations suggested to Catholic Relief Services https://support.crs.org . Services entrusted to the Potti & Marc F. Burr Funeral Homes of Madison, Chardon, Painesville & Fairport Harbor. Obituary, online condolences and memorial gifts available at www.marcfburrfuneralhome.com .