Ellen Donahoo made the best cinnamon rolls around.
Cookies, black raspberry jelly and those legendary birthday cakes for her grandkids, too.
If there was a baby squirrel or baby raccoon or stray pup out there that needed rescuing, she’d be the one to do it.
She could split firewood – and mend broken hearts – all in the same afternoon.
Her friends and family wanted you to know that, even as their collective hearts are now broken.
Calling hours are from 4-8 p.m. today at Nichol Funeral Home in Washington, Pa., for the woman from Scenery Hill who went missing Monday night in Arctic-like temperatures and was discovered dead in her car the next day an hour south in Fairmont, near White Day Golf Course.
Her funeral is 11 a.m. Saturday at North Ten Mile Baptist Church, in Amity, Pa.
In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be made to the church, for the funding of future mission trips.
Donahoo, 76, had been battling dementia – and according to accounts, was last seen in her car around 6 p.m. that day in the vicinity of Kusch Road and Daniels Run Road in North Bethlehem Township.
No foul play is suspected, said the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, which led the investigation here.
With the weather and Donahoo’s challenges, it didn’t take long for her family to grow alarmed. Calls to police went out quickly and the mobilization on social media occurred just as fast.
All those friends were there, in the digital arena, for all that family.
There was Ellen’s husband, Carl, whom she married in 1968.
And their children, Melissa “Missy” Donahoo Watson and Dan Donahoo.
The aforementioned seven grandchildren, plus their five great-grandchildren, also.
Thoughts, prayers, fond remembrances – to go with a keen eye out for a certain automobile.
Missy Watson, who didn’t return calls in time for this report, praised her mother on Facebook.
She talked about her mom’s generosity of spirit and all the adventures they shared, which included the taking in of a recent performance in Pittsburgh by contemporary Christian artist Chris Tomlin – Donahoo’s first-ever concert.
“It was not the outcome we wanted, but we know that she is at home with the Lord,” a daughter posted.
“I will just wait until the day that I can see her again and hug her again just one more time.”
