Emailing - The Grand Music Club

Date: 6/13/2026
Subject: Donna Mills - UPDATE TO ALL MUSICIANS
From: The Grand Music Club - Pamela Weir

Dear Musicians -

In the event that you did not hear about Donna Mills, I'm sorry to be the one to inform you that she passed away on 5/18. It happened quicky, and if you want any details, you can follow the email trail below, the oldest information is at the bottom. Because everything happened so quickly and was such a shock, when I announced her death to the Grand Singers, I was not thinking about how involved she had been in the Music Club as a whole, and so I'd like to take this moment to add a few pieces of additional information in notifying everyone.

She was fully committed to the Grand Singers since she and Don moved here in 2020 and she joined the chorus in 2001, but in addition to this, she loved pop music of the 50's and the 60's. When she joined the club in the early 2000's, to most of the new residents, this was the music of their youth, so it totally fit in with what she enjoyed so much! She was actually a participant and co-founder of 5 pop music bands where she played keyboard and sang:

Kingston Konnection - Folk/Pop Songs - Trio, formed in 2002
RetroRock - 50's/60's Rock 'n' Roll - Oktoberfest 2002, 1st performance
Beach Bums - Rock 'n' Roll - Quartet - started in 2003
Goldridge Gang - Country flair in the style of the Oakridge Boys/Statler Brothers - started in 2004
Jukebox Junkies - Jukebox era music - started in 2006 and last performed for the Celebration of Music Show in November 2025.

Over Donna's span as a 25-year member, these bands all performed at literally hundreds of venues! Many were local Grand events such as Veteran's Day, Oktoberfest and other special CAM-sponsored events. Several of Donna's quartets sang her arrangement of the National Anthem at Baseball Spring Training games at least 4 times. Other venues included local charity events, retirement homes and many of the Benevilla non-profit adult care centers.

Donna was also a part of The Incidentals, a Gospel music Quartet, the "Manly Love Song" Series of 6 shows and many Music Club Showcases, including the annual Celebration of Music.

As involved as she was in performing, one might be surprised to know that Donna hated singing solos! In one MC Showcase she was coaxed into singing and playing "How Much is That Doggie in the Window". The dog was owned by one of the local pet club members, and no one had any idea as to how he would react during the actual performance. The following picture was taken just before Donna started to sing and the dog perked up his ears, arched his neck regally and stared out at the crowd of 400 people as if he owned the place! It was a smash hit, and both Don and Donna loved it as they were true dog lovers!

Donna will truly be missed in the Grand Singers and the Music Club as a whole. She was instrumental in helping to shape the club to what it is today!

The Grand Singers will be adding a piece in memory of Donna during our Holiday Concert called "Et In Terra Pax" (And On Earth, Peace). If you are interested in being a part of this gift of celebration in her honor, but are not a part of the Grand Singers, reach out to me directly at boudreaupj@gmail.com and I'll put together a rehearsal schedule specific to this piece so you can join us.

Pamela Weir

5/18/2026

To my dear Grand Singers Family -

It is with a broken heart that I let you all know that Donna has passed on to her new life in Heaven. She left us about an hour ago. She never was moved from Intensive Care to Hospice, her poor little body just stopped working. This morning she was laying peacefully and her cousin, Doreen, told me that when she first saw her, she knew it was just a matter of hours. She was never in any pain or discomfort. At the same time, as much as my heart hurts, I am so grateful that she didn't have to linger on in this sickly condition. She would not have wanted that in the least.

I now picture Donna back with her husband, Don, of 56 years and they will begin a new count for eternity. Their love will continue on, and I'm sure Donna will shortly be part of the 'team' of angel singers in the sky! I can picture her now, and that gives me peace.

Donna meant so much to so many of us and I'm honored that I was able to play a small part of her transitioning to her new life, and I want you to know that I read to her or told her of each email and text I received. Even if it didn't look like she was awake, I'd get a little raising of a lip that told me she was hearing every word I was saying. Please know that she knew how much she was loved by all of you.

Be kind to yourself, be kind to one another. We tend to forget how quickly life can change forever.

Blessings,

Pamela

5/17/26 Update

Dear Singers -

I saw Donna this morning and she was a little more alert. She was able to respond with simple one-word answers or by simply nodding her head. I told her that her work here on earth was done - she had lived a good life with Don, and she played such an important part in building the Grand Singers, but it was time for her to stop trying to fight. She nodded that she knew. I said that Grand Singers might hit a bump or two, but that we would find our way without her. I told her that Mark Hutton was already scheduled to meet with Kathy Head and Norma Lucas tomorrow morning, and that Ruthann said we would just have to think 'What would Donna Do' and probably we'd figure it out! (Our new Mantra!)

Her cousin has arrived and she has the Medical Power of Attorney, so we talked with the cancer doctor and he showed the MRI and where it showed cancer cells all over - he said she isn't strong enough to even tolerate one round of chemo, and it wouldn't do anything to help with the situation anyway. He recommended that we get Hospice - he said he would recommend that we use inpatient hospice. She really couldn't be moved. After some prompting questions, he said that based on her blood pressure and her ability to breathe on her own, it could happen at any time, but his best guess was 4 days to one week. They will keep her comfortable, make sure she isn't in any pain (which she isn't in right now) and just give her care until she makes the trip to be with her husband again.

There will be no funeral once she passes - neither Don nor Donna wanted a funeral! We will, however, coordinate a date when everyone is back where her cousin will come again, the choir will sing a few songs, and we'll share a few words together. I said this in front of Donna and she smiled. I said, 'Donna, if you are mad, you can blame it on me, and since you'll be right there with God, you can send a little thunder down our way!' She gave a great big smile!

I think she is at peace and now ready.

That's all for today....

((hugs))

Pamela

5/16/26

All -

I wish I had some good news, but today's news is not good. There were all kinds of doctors and health professionals in today, most while Marv and Loydine were there and a few while I was there. It has been determined that Donna has liver cancer that has spread to her other organs and to other parts of her body. There is no coming back from this. Her kidneys have failed, her liver is failing and she has internal bleeding. In fact, it doesn't seem like she has much time left. It sounds like she might have been sick for quite some time, she may have not known there was anything wrong because she's basically not been sick at all her entire life! I spent this afternoon sitting beside her, and other than about 1 minute, she was asleep and unaware the entire time. She doesn't appear to be in any pain or discomfort.

I kept reassuring her that Don would be waiting for her, that she had a good life with him and how loved she has been by so many people. I told her that while we would fumble without her, and I can't right this moment even imagine it without her, but we would all rally together and keep Grand Singers strong and healthy in her name. I told her that so many of you wish you were the ones sitting by her side but that I am representing you in love. She has loved the Grand Singers since she first arrived.

Tough update and I don't expect the next email will be any easier but wanted to update you all.

((hugs))

Pamela

Dear Choir -

I don't have a great email here today. Donna is in need of IMMEDIATE prayers! She is currently in Intensive Care at Del Webb Hospital but PLEASE do not go see her. Here's what I know:

She had her annual physical a couple weeks ago and everything seemed fine except her GFR was significantly lower than it had been the year before. She hadn't been feeling great, so Marv & Loydine Myhre took her to see a kidney doctor on April 20th. The doctor didn't seem to be too concerned. Over the next few days, she was having increased abdominal pains, fatigue and just feeling yucky. They took her to the ER and they admitted her for additional testing and treatment. She was getting worse, but yesterday afternoon seemed to rally and things looked better. They had, however, found a mass on her liver through an MRI. This morning Marv got a call from the hospital saying that things had gotten much worse and that there were significant problems with her major organs and they moved her into Intensive Care. Donna told Marv I could come, so I went right over at about 11 today. I stayed with her for about 4 hours, just sitting by her side. She's having trouble keeping her oxygen level up, so I kept having her do Grand Singers pre-concert breathing and it seemed to help.

She said she is not ready to die yet, so for them to do anything, they have to first put her through dialysis. She's not strong enough to even have a biopsy, so this has to be the first step.

Marv will be keeping me updated, and I'll run up any time he and Loydine are in need of a break or food or if anything changes. I will keep you all updated. Please, do not even think about going to see her - she's pretty adamant about that! I didn't even know she was in the hospital until the call this morning from Marv! I knew she was grieving....remember, she just lost her husband on the 24th of April!

Please, PLEASE pray for her! She's in need of prayers and positive and hopeful thoughts right now more than cards. (She showed me with her hands the stack of cards she received following Don's passing - they all mean so much to her!)

Stay well.

Pamela

Return to Previous Page