Donna Jo AilerDonna Jo Ailer, of Peabody Retirement Community, North Manchester, passed away at 3:35 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, at Parkview Wabash Hospital in Wabash, at the age of 93.
She was born on Oct. 29, 1928, in Fulton County, to Blanche Wynn Ailer and Russell Ailer. Donna was a 1948 graduate of Atwood High School, Atwood. She worked for 50 years in South Bend as a telephone operator for Bell Telephone Company.
Donna always kept herself busy and enjoyed crocheting, knitting and of course cooking. After retirement, she was quite proud of the fact that she learned to play the piano and she was never too old to try something new. She had a lifetime special friend in Ed, and over the years, they shared many adventures as they traveled to different places. She was a wonderful sister and aunt to her many nieces and nephews she leaves behind. Donna will be dearly missed by everyone who was fortunate to have known her.
She leaves behind her niece, Vicki (Tim) Mikel, Mentone; and eight nephews: Fred (Debbie) Horn, Georgia; Barry (Judy) Peterson, Rochester; Mickey (Sue) Horn, Rochester; Greg (Brenda) Swanson, South Carolina; Mike (Amy) Swanson, Warsaw; Scott (Bonnie) Swanson, Winona Lake; Jeff (Claudia) Swanson, Warsaw; David (Lora) Swanson, Atwood; and her brother-in-law, Bob Swanson, Warsaw.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters: Velma Horn, Thelma Peterson and most recently Phyllis Swanson in 2021; and her lifelong companion, Ed.
Donna’s family will celebrate her life with a private visitation and remember her always.
Arrangements were entrusted to Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw.
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Memorial donations may be directed to the Salvation Army, 501 Arthur Street, Warsaw, IN 46580.
Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s website at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com.
