Donna DeLane

Donna DeLane, age 88, of Little Falls, MN, passed away Friday, August 10, 2012 at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 17, 2012 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Little Falls, MN, with Fr. Nicholas Landsberger officiating. Interment will be in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery north of Little Falls. Visitation will be held from 4:30 - 8:00 p.m. Thursday, August 16, 2012 and 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 17, 2012 at Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service in Little Falls. There will be a parish prayer service at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home followed by a rosary at 7:45 p.m. Donna Jean Marie Olson was born on December 26, 1923 in Brainerd, Minnesota the daughter of Christ & Olga (Hanson) Olson. She grew up in Brainerd and graduated from Brainerd High School Class of 1941. She attended St. Mary's School of Nursing in Rochester, MN, graduating in 1945. She then went to the University of Minnesota where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. Following her schooling, she was employed in Public Health in St. Paul, MN for four years. She was united in marriage to Robert DeLane on September 3, 1949, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd. The couple made their home in the Twin Cities until Robert went to serve in the Korean Conflict. While Robert was in the service, Donna moved back to Brainerd. Then they relocated to Fergus Falls, MN, and moved to Little Falls in 1959. In 1963, she went to work at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls retiring in November, 1983. Donna enjoyed playing cards, having a beer with friends after work, traveling in retirement, visiting with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, volunteering, and served on the EEI board. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Little Falls and the 3rd Order of Franciscans. Grateful for having shared her life are her children, Terri (Bob) Sentell of Bedford, TX, Pat Delane of Cushing, Cathy (Jim) Grimes of Tucson, AZ, Mark (Cheryl) DeLane of Pine River, John (Lynn) DeLane of Eagle River, AK, Jim DeLane of Ft. Ripley, Mary (Ed) Hoover of Little Falls, Beth (Stanley) Barnes of Waite Park, Paul (Alice) DeLane of Rice and Amy DeLane of Little Falls; 20 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. Donna was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert (January 16, 2000) and grandson, Mark Vnuk.