Donna Marie Umberger

Donna Umberger was a big personality in a small package. She had a positive impact on each person she interacted with. She was courageous, inspirational, kind, loving, funny, full of joy, and a ball of fire, which showed us what can be accomplished with love, determination, and persistence. She lived her life to the fullest, despite challenges along the way. Her greatest joys and accomplishments were the love of her husband, the gift of being a Mom, her extended loving family, and her beloved Linthicum 4-H Hi-Riders horse club.

We are honoring our beautiful, gregarious, funny, and very spiritual mom, Donna Umberger. She was great, loving, the most compassionate of our family. She devoured God’s word and prayed every day. She loved her family. She was our hero, a great mom, sister, aunt, daughter, and friend.  Born on May 21, in Clairton, PA, Donna was known for her warmth, generosity, zest for life, and the undeniably loving spirit she brought into and shared with the world. On April 22nd, surrounded in love by Bette, Judith, & Melissa, she left her physical body and became an angel in God’s glorious kingdom.

Donna was a do-er. If you wanted something done everyone knew Donna would help take care of it! She had active roles in her church serving on various committees. Donna volunteered as the Leader of the Linthicum 4-H Hi-Riders horse club for the last 40 years. There she was a loving 2nd mother and 2 d grandmother, to each 4-H member that passed through her club throughout the decades and was everyone’s biggest cheerleader. She was enthusiastic about mentoring others to follow their own path and to chase their dreams. “Each of you were not meant to do one great thing, you were meant to be great in every aspect of your life that you work hard with ethics and integrity. Do not limit yourself but challenge yourself each day to be your better self.”

Donna always had your back! Most will fondly remember Donna for her beautiful smile, her passion for the care and welfare of others, as well as the enrichment of her family and friends (that became family). A discerning woman, she provided comfort and solace while asking little in return. Her belated husband, Thomas (Tom), adored her and together they taught their children, Judith and Melissa, integrity, loyalty, and compassion, imbuing them with the confidence necessary to pursue life with a pervasive, contagious fervor.

Donna will be remembered by her beloved children, Judith Taylor, Melissa Umberger (partner Bette Phelps), her brother Joseph Piatek (Karen Piatek), her sister Sylvia Pittman, and her many cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles. She is joined in eternal rest by her father & mother (Joseph & Mary Piatek), her devoted husband (Thomas Umberger) and her sister Deborah Miller (James Miller), along with many other loved ones throughout her life. With a hefty family tree and a family consisting of both blood ties and bonds formed from the heart, Donna’s reach was as far as it was wide, and she was cherished deeply by all that crossed her path.

Our hearts are broken, but she is now living eternally with her precious Savior Jesus. To say we will all miss her is an understatement. But we look forward to rejoice with her, our dad, and our family and friends when our time is called to join them. However, our hearts are delighted that she is dancing a polka and singing (loudly) to Celtic Women, Nancy Krebs, Celine Dion, and Peter, Paul, &  Mary.  We are hugging you in our souls every day.

There will be a viewing at Kirkley Ruddick Funeral Home from 3-5pm and 7-9pm on Thursday, May 15, 2025, followed by a funeral service at 12pm on Friday May 16th at Christ the King Church. Following the funeral a brief service will be held at Crownsville Veteran Cemetery at 1:45pm and a repass will follow thereafter. Those wishing to pay their respects and celebrate her life are welcome.

Donna’s final wishes were that in lieu of flowers and cards, donations should please be made to Beagle Rescue of Southern Maryland (BRSM) https://beaglemaryland.org , where she rescued her treasured 4-legged son “Trevor Milford Umberger”. Donna wished she could write BRSM a blank check to support the various works this
organization does to rescue, care, foster, train, and prepare each animal’s physical and mental health, for their “pawfect” forever home.