Donna Rae Shindell (née Ehlert) passed away peacefully at her Bucks County, Pennsylvania home on July 14, 2021 surrounded by her husband and daughters.
Donna was born in 1938 in Milwaukee, WI to the late Raymond and Loretta (née Bertram) Ehlert.
She moved to Los Angeles, CA in 1960 where she was a model, etiquette instructor, student, interior designer, storeowner and homemaker/party-giver extraordinaire. In 1986, she moved east and discovered the beauty and magic of Bucks County, which captured her heart. Except for a few years living in Baltimore, MD, she remained in her beloved Bucks County until her death.
Donna was a woman of many talents, passions and loves. She cared deeply about justice and equality. Those of you who called her “friend” know that you were so much more than that to her. You were her family.
Those of us lucky enough to have been her family also had in Donna a dear friend and confidant. She was loyal and devoted to us all, to the end. She also loved her books, dogs, travel, good food and wine, nature, her gardens and beauty of all kind. Donna has left us with memories of her own beauty and of the beauty she created around her. She wanted nothing more than peace and happiness for herself and for those she loved.
Donna is survived by her husband of 21 years, Richard H. Shindell; her children Heidi Mueller Smith (Cotter), Maria Korman, Christopher Korman (Patricia); her step-children George DiCenzo Riedel (Suzanne), Richard W. Shindell (Lila), Scott Shindell (Janet), Caroline Shindell (Christopher) and Colburn Shindell (Deborah); her grandchildren: Brianne, Christopher, Evan, Madeline, Ethan, Noah, Scott, Megan, Sarah, Maddy, Sam, Ana, Martin, Rudolph, Nathaniel, August, Lucia and Mac, as well as her sister, Audrey Mazur.
Donna was preceded in death by her brothers: Russell Ehlert and Dean Ehlert, as well as her former husbands, Harvey Korman and George DiCenzo.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution in Donna’s name to: A Woman’s Place 1281 Almshouse Rd, Doylestown, PA 18901 (awomansplace.org/supportus/online-donation.html).
A celebration of Donna’s life will be held at a later time.
Reed and Steinbach Funeral Home, Doylestown
www.reedandsteinbach.com
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