Donna Freeman

Donna Marie Freeman (nee Badger), age 91, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many, went home to rest with her Lord and Savior. Donna passed away peacefully in her home, Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at 4:12pm, surrounded by her husband, Donald, of 72 years, her oldest son, Steve, her two youngest daughters, Valerie and Jennifer, and one of her granddaughters, Alexandria Marie.

Born June 22, 1932 in Star City, Indiana, Donna was the youngest child of Ray Badger and Ruth Badger (nee Woolington). Donna had two older sisters, Margaret (late DeFern) Adams and Alice (late Rusty) Lucas and one older half-brother, James Badger. As a child, Donna lived in many homes in Indiana, moving as much as seven times in one school year. At 12 years old, Donna worked at the local 'mom and pop' grocery store, in Winamac, Indiana and went on to attend Winamac High School in the late 1940s. While working at a blue jeans garment factory, Donna met her future husband, Don, who thought Donna had the prettiest eyes and smile and was 'the cutest, little chickie' he ever saw. Their first 'date' was a motorcycle ride and a few years later, they both owned and rode their own motorcycles, together. Donna and Don were married on March 4, 1951 and in March of 1952, their first child was born. While living in West Lafayette, Indiana, Donna worked as a waitress at Arth's drugstore across the street from the campus of Purdue, after which she would walk over an hour home, at midnight. In 1966, they moved to their home in Orland Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Donna was a dedicated homemaker and wonderful mother, raising their six children - three boys and three girls - in the same home she lived in for the past 56 years, since moving from Indiana. Middle daughter, Valerie, shares, 'My Mom was the maker of our family's precious Christmas traditions, planner of our special Brown's Chicken birthday celebrations and cooker of the best homemade noodles in the world'! Over the years, Donna enjoyed selling Tupperware, teaching a class at the local college on how to save money and published her own monthly newsletter called 'Saving Dollars'. Donna was a member and an officer of the Avon Collector's Club of America, she served as president of TOPS and for 10 years, she was the National Director of the Ms. American United States pageant, held annually in the Chicagoland area and later in Orlando, Florida, a program she and her daughters, Valerie and Jennifer founded. One of Donna's favorite past-times was watching old television programs, including game shows from the 60s and 70s. She also very much enjoyed reading her newspapers, daily (especially, the Pulaski County Journal, a small newspaper from her Indiana hometown). Donna loved sharing childhood memories with her family and often journaled her life story to be passed down to future generations. Donna loved to travel and write all about her journeys along the road. She had a goal to visit all 50 states and was able to travel to approximately 40 of them! Donna had a passion for Chicago White Sox baseball, watching the games on tv and listening to them on the radio. First-born, Steve, 'My Mother was a loyal White Sox fan since the '77 "Southside Hitmen". Donna loved learning about her family history. She and her youngest daughter, Jennifer, shared a passion for genealogy. 'My Mother's greatest ancestral desire was to discover more about her great, great-grandfather, Joseph Badger, who came to the United States, as a young lad from Ireland, in the late 1700s'. Donna was a loyal and dedicated wife. 'For over 72 years, my beautiful, blue-eyed wife Donna's constant love for family never waivered from her selfless, pure heart', says husband Don.

Donna was the precious mother of Steven Freeman, Randall (Marylou) Freeman, Kelly Wirtz, (late) Timothy 'Scott' (late Pamela) Freeman, Valerie (Raymond) Kokesh, Jennifer (late Thomas) Dowell. She was the cherished grandmother of 14 - Joshua Wirtz, Michael (Elise) Wirtz, Christopher (Jenny) Freeman, Megan (Vinny) Cullen, Shannon Reddington, Shelby Wirtz, Timothy Dowell, Anthony (Alisha Melvin) Dowell, Tyler Wirtz, Nicholas Dowell, Benjamin Kokesh, Alexandria Kokesh, Natalie Dowell and Thomas Lee Dowell. Donna was the proud great-grandmother of 11 - MacKenzie, Charlie and Olivia Reddington, Connor and Maci Cullen, Riley, Maddon, Austin and Whitney Freeman, Lucas Wirtz (and two half-brothers, Mason and Marshall) and Averie Dowell. She was the fond aunt and great-aunt to many nieces and nephews, including Marilyn Hafey and Michelle Hafey. Donna was the dear, best friend of Kathy Anderson and, once again, a friend to many and loved by all. Granddaughter, Alexandria (Ali), 'My grandma had a heart of gold and always put others before herself. She was and always will be one of my greatest role models'. In addition to being preceded in death by her parents, sisters, half-brother and son, Donna is also preceded in death by her grandparents Charles and Laura (nee Vernon) Badger and George and Alma Edith (nee Jackson) Woolington.

Visitation will be held Friday, August 18, 2023 from 3pm - 8pm. Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at 10:00am at Colonial Chapel - 15525 S. 73rd Avenue (155th / Wheeler Drive & Harlem) Orland Park, IL. A live-stream of the service will be available. Please visit Donna's obituary on Colonial Chapel's website at colonialchapel.com to view the live-stream of the service. Interment Orland Memorial Park Cemetery, Orland Park, IL.

Express your thoughts and condolences at colonialchapel.com 708 532 - 5400

Below is a video recording of Donna's Funeral Service held on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at 10:00AM CST.



Below is a photo tribute celebrating Donna's life.