Donna Marie Godfrey passed away peacefully Tuesday, May 16, 2023. Visitation will be from 9:30-10:30 AM followed by Funeral Services at 10:30 AM Monday, May 22, at the Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia, Lenexa, KS. Burial in Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens, Overland Park, KS. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to The Culture House, Overland Park, KS.
Donna was born March 29, 1939 in Kansas City, Missouri to Lee and Ruth Laptad. Although this makes her 84 years old, she spent most of her life trying to convince everyone she was much younger. In fact, she had her grandchildren believing she was younger than their mother for a good part of their childhood. If you knew her well, you knew she never really acted her age. Donna lived her life through the eyes of a child, even as an adult. She was constantly happy, complimenting and appreciating everyone and everything, and joyful in spite of any obstacle or discomfort in her way. Donna was extraordinary.
Donna grew up in Olathe, Kansas and as an only child longing for siblings, she created an amazing network of friends across the globe. Donna was an eccentric individual from an early age, convincing her father to let her paint turquoise polka dots on her Model A Ford, which was an antique in her time. She was Homecoming Queen, Centennial Queen (winning a trip to the Rose Bowl) and even won a Tarpon fishing contest in Florida at the age of 16. Donna had visited every state by the age of 18 and took a solo voyage across the Atlantic after high school to travel to her beloved Paris returning home with no more than $1.35 to her name.
Donna was a cheerleader in high school, and she carried that positivity throughout her life. In her later days, she spent tremendous energy making sure everyone around her felt comfortable, had enough to eat, felt good about what they were wearing, how they were performing their job, how hard they worked, smart they were, what a good parent, friend, student, waitress, valet, etc. In her final few months, Donna spent some time in the hospital and quickly became a favorite among the staff. It’s not hard to see why. They needed their daily dose of Donna…the patient who would leave them feeling better than they were able to leave her.
Donna graduated from the University of Kansas, where both her parents and children attended. She was a member of the Delta Gamma sorority and adored her sisters that became life long friends.
Donna spent her life teaching and volunteer teaching. She was a 3rd grade teacher at heart, but she taught most every grade and subject during her tenure as a substitute teacher following her fulltime classroom work. She taught English to children of all ages when she was living in Tripoli, Libia in the late 1960’s. Donna also had a very long and close relationship with her Methodist church and was a beloved Kindergarten Sunday school teacher at St. Mark’s for over 40 years. Donna adored children and absolutely loved to teach anyone willing to listen and learn about any of the many subjects in which she was interested. She was very worldly, but never missed an opportunity to make you feel like a million bucks or capable of anything you wanted to accomplish.
Donna was a Journalist and an avid reader and one would be hard pressed to find something she has not read. She recently spent considerable time creating a reading list for her grandchildren as a Christmas present. It’s a treasure.
Donna loved the Arts. LOVED the Arts. All of them. She loved anyone who worked with or appreciated the Arts. Donna shared her passion for art history by taking her grandchildren on scavenger hunts at the Nelson Art Gallery, by framing magnificent works of art created by them, and encouraging them to draw and paint and sketch. She kept a large stock of all kinds of supplies nearby for anyone interested in creating art with her in her Nana nook.
Donna loved the theater, especially high school theater at Shawnee Mission North. Donna founded the Immortal Indians to keep the parents of SMN students engaged in continual support of all great things North had to offer. She was always the first one standing, the last one clapping, laughing at all the right moments. She made sure everyone had a flower at the end of the performance, so they knew how much their performance had meant to the audience.
Donna loved the water, spending most of her vacation time in La Jolla, CA and the Lake of the Ozarks. She loved to travel and to dine with friends.
Donna loved to be a mother and Nana. She absolutely adored her children and grandchildren. In the past several years, Donna lived with Nick and Elizabeth, and the grandkids patiently waited their turn for their own special Nana time to gain her full attention and admiration. Apologies for all the pictures you had to look at and embellished stories you had to endure. But did she share the joy? Sure she did. She was never stingy with the joy. She showered it on everyone.
Donna has made and held lifelong friendships with countless people. If you are one of those people, count yourself lucky. If not, let this be an inspiration to find someone like her or be someone like her, and not to waste any time. Life is too short. Be present. Be kind. Donna loved her life. She wanted you to as well.
Donna’s last words to Beth were “purr” when she was stroking Donna’s hair and face in loving comfort and “I love Tulips” when Nick brought her a vase of flowers. Donna was surrounded by comfort and beauty in her final hours. Just as she worked all her life to give to others, she deserved.
Donna was survived by her two children, Elizabeth (Beth) Ashley Boldt (Scott Michael Herpich, spouse); Nicholas (Nick) Muret Godfrey (Elizabeth Greer Godfrey, spouse) and nine grandchildren: Harrison Boldt, Harden Boldt, Hudson Boldt, Sydney Herpich, Sam Herpich, Grace Godfrey, Jack Godfrey, Ben Godfrey and Betsy Godfrey.