Mildred “Millie” Rose (Gillen) Donovan, 77, Shawnee, KS, passed away Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at Kansas City Hospice House. Her end-of-life service will be held at Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia, Lenexa, KS on Tuesday, April 27 beginning with a visitation and family-led Rosary at 10:00 a.m., followed by a remembrance service from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Due to Covid-19, social distancing and other variables, there will not be a post-service gathering hosted by the family or funeral home.
Millie was born August 18, 1943 in Kingman, KS, the daughter of George and Agnes (Grieving) Gillen of Winfield, KS. She graduated from Winfield High School in 1962. She would follow her older sister, Lenore (Gillen) Befort from Winfield to the big city of Kansas City where she graduated from Hays Hairdressing Academy. A lover of life and fast cars, she would meet her future husband, Daniel Anthony Donovan of Shawnee, KS at Donovan’s Service where he eyed her and her ’61 Chevy Impala convertible. This spark fueled 54-years of marriage and filled their home with four children, Julie Ann Donovan George, Steven Anthony Donovan, Susan Renee Donovan Gottschall, and Andrew Joseph Donovan.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her beloved Aunt Jean and Uncle Bill Young of Kingman, KS. Millie is survived by her husband, Dan and their four children and their spouses –David George, Erin (Israel) Donovan, Bret Gottschall, and Natalie (Harbin) Donovan, all of the KC metro area. She leaves behind her 10 cherished and very spoiled grandchildren, Evan Daniel, Ethan Christopher and Alexander Davis George; Jack Andrew, Suzette Rose and Gwyneth Georganne Donovan; Tess Ruby and Donovan Thomas Gottschall, and Greyson Lee and Emery Gillen Donovan. She is also survived by her siblings Lenore Befort, Delores Buchanan, Marjo Smith, Gerry Gillen, Dorthy Strohl, Mary Skyberg, George Gillen, and Larry Joe Gillen.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations in Millie’s name to the dedicated and amazing Kansas City Hospice House at 1500 Meadow Lake Parkway, Suite 200, Kansas City, MO 64114 or via KCHospice.org.