Jean Anne Gionet Donah
Dan McClelland
Jean Anne Gionet Donah died Sunday, May 26, 2024, just ten days after her 86th birthday. She lived the last years of her life bravely and lovingly with her husband, while being cared for at home in Tupper Lake by her family and a network of care providers who became like family. Her life was built on faith, family, friendship, and a community spirit.
Jean was born May 16, 1938, in Tupper Lake, New York, the daughter of Joseph Ernest Gionet and Alma Turcotte Gionet.
She graduated from Holy Ghost Academy in 1956 and what was then known as Canton Agricultural and Technical College in 1958. It was at Canton ATC where she met the love of her life, Donald W. Donah. They were married on July 12, 1958, in St. Alphonsus Church in her hometown of Tupper Lake.
Don and Jean started their first business venture in the Union Block Building, Don’s Men’s Shop with the help of her loving father, Ernie. Their business evolved in that location. The Montgomery Ward Catalog Store was a successful venture, winning sales agency of the year in 1982. Then in 1985, it became a sales agency for J.C. Penney Co.
Jean was the face of the franchise, while Don taught business math courses at Tupper Lake High School. They were continually active in the Tupper Lake community, supporting many organizations with a wide network of friends.
Through the years, while raising her family, Jean loved to ski in the winter, play golf, enjoy the lakes in the summer, and enjoy a game of bridge all year round. She and Don volunteered at The Wild Center and were active members of St. Alphonsus Parish, the Tupper Lake Golf Club, and the Big Tupper Courtesy Patrol.
Once they retired in 2003, Jean and Don spent a month every year in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina making new friends. She always shared from her heart. She gave her love of reading to her son Michael, her ambitious spirit to her youngest, Rick, and her sense of humor to her son James.
Jean is survived by her husband of 65 years, Donald Donah, and three sons: Michael and Rick, both of Tupper Lake, and James of Albany. A granddaughter, Nicole Donah of Albany, a grandson Luke Donah and his wife of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and a great grandson named Beaux; a sister, Helen Schmidling of Sisters, Oregon; nieces Jodie McLeod of Colorado and Melissa Gionet of New Zealand; a sister-in-law, Catherine Pillar of Pottstown, PA; nieces Patti and Robin, also Angie Donah, all of the Potsdam area; stepbrothers Gary and David Barnett and partner Molly Sherwin of Albany.
In addition to her parents, she was pre-deceased by her brother Daniel and sister-in-law Margaret Gionet of Keeseville, N.Y. and three of their children, Amy, Chris and Mary; a stepsister Dana (Barnett) and Stan Gilligan of Malone, N.Y.; brother-in-law Robert and Sally Donah, their son Christopher Donah, Clarence Donah, and sister-in-law Dorothy (Charles) McArthur.
In recent years, as she struggled through the haze of dementia, she would make sure her husband Don, three sons, and health aides knew that they were appreciated with a simple “I love you”.
Her beautiful soul was celebrated on Friday, May 31st, 2024, at Saint Alphonsus Church at 1p.m. There were no calling hours, but a celebration of her life was held at the Tupper Lake Country Club from 2p.m. to 5p.m., the very same venue that hosted her wedding reception over 65 years ago.
Contributions can be sent in her honor to the Tupper Lake Vol. Ambulance and Emergency Squad, Inc. , PO Box 901, Tupper Lake, NY 12986.