Donna R. Darling

Donna was special! I will miss her very much.

I was fortnuate enough to receive healing care from Donna once a month or more for the last several years. The appointments were something I looked forward to all month long. She treated the verbialized and non verbialized pain. She encouraged me to deal with pain I had not communicated and remembered so much about each person's life she came in contact with. To have met Donna was to have a friend in Donna, to have known Donna left an imprint on your heart. We were all better people for having her in our lives and I hope I can honor hers by carrying on her love of her family, her strong faith in God, her genuine care and concern for others and her ability to be loving and caring no matter what was going on in her own life. Donna was with me in the darkest, scariest and brightest of times ready to pick me up with prayer and loving words. She was more than a massage therapist. Thank you Donna for sharing your wonderful self with the world without fear and without regrets. You will be missed dearly. Deepest Sympathy to all Family and Friends

Your smile and grace will be missed. You never judged and always made everyone feel so welcomed. Your dedication to your children, Lord, and helping others will continue to teach us through the rest our of personal journey. You made a difference in the lives of those who were fortunate enough to have met you, and will continue to do so through the lives of your children. I will never forget you.

Donna's spirit was one of tenderness and humility combined with strength and confidence in her relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We had many deep conversations about her faith and her family. We will miss her terribly but know that we know exactly where she is and who she is with. We are praying for her family.

I have know Donna for many years, while we both worked at St. Johns. I recently was a patient myself and found she still had that loving smile and quiet kindness. My thoughts and prayers to her family. Ann Broch

My heart, thoughts, & prayers are with Donna's children, mother, family, & friends. Donna has been a golden thread running through my life for almost 30 yrs. Even when apart we were connected in spirit. I loved her deeply. Donna approached life as a classroom-ever learning-humility keeping her from seeing herself as teacher by the way she lived and character she displayed. One lesson she taught me began 23-24 yrs. ago when I was struggling w/ my teenagers' issues. She said to me, "You know Diane, when you have children, your heart is no longer your own, it will always live outside of yourself"...Truth, Love, & Acceptance...three of her virtues. May Christ's peace comfort all who mourn for losing her, especially her children and mom. In His Grace, Diane

My deepest sympathy to Donna's family and loves ones. Chris, Nathania, and Jordan, your mother was so proud of you - her face lit up whenever she spoke of you. She was an amazing woman who touched many lives. She will be missed. I will miss her in a very special way on Thanksgiving and on the birth date that we shared. May you find comfort and peace in the memories of your mother and knowing that there are so many who are holding you in their thoughts and prayers.

I only met Donna one time, but I can see by her pictures she was always smiling. You could tell by looking at her that she had healing abilities. My heart goes out to Donna;s children. God Bless You All! Elizabeth Bogan

God's healing flowed through Donna's hands into all she touched. We thank God for the gifts of her friendship, love, prayers and therapy. Surely goodness and mercy does follow her as she left a little bit in all of us who are blessed to know her.

I can't tell you how sad I was to read of Donna's passing. She will always be at the top of my list of the kind and gentle people who have touched my life. Her quiet peace was a blessing to all of us who knew her.

Precious Donna... You will be missed so much. Our loss is the Lord's gain. You always had a smile on your face, your love and adoration for your children, grandchildren and in laws was etched into your beautiful smile. You saved me from TMJ in 2000 and we have been friends in Christ since then.

She came into my life like a holy whirlwind and stayed for ten years and then some. She was the most complete human being I've ever known, and in the overwhelmingness of her humanity and passion there was something that reached far beyond where most of us dare to tread. She could read my mind so quickly and thoroughly that it was embarrassing. She was a blindingly bright light constantly searching all the things and creatures and ways of God. She pulled me, kicking and bawling, to the foot of the Cross. I guess sometimes when children are rebellious that's how it must be done. I give thanks for her life and for all that we shared. May God bring peace and comfort to her family andf friends.

I had the privilege of knowing Donna through our work together at St. John's and then found out that we attended the same church, Hope. Our conversations always leaned towards her love for God, her family, her co-workers and her job. I know she is healed and whole in heaven and singing with the angels. God bless those friends and families who are hurting & missing her. Ann Stone, House Supervisor, St. John's Hospital

You have my deepest sympathy. I've been a client of your mom's from the beginning and feel she was a real friend. She loved her children and grand children and I feel like I know you all personally, Donna always had a smile and was so soft spoken and kind, she will be missed by all who knew her. Sandy Zepp

I am so saddened by Donna's passing - more than words can say. She was so gifted - healing hands is what she had. She was so much a part of my success as a chiropractic physician for 12 of the 13 years of my practice. I wish I would have told her this more often. I will always remember her caring attitude, her smile and her love for all of the patients. The world has lost the best massage therapist ever but I am sure she is continuing her work above. God bless her as well as her family. Susan M. Minder D.C.

I first met Donna about 6 years ago, I started chiropractic care for a pinched nerve in my back when I was about 7 months pregnant with my son and I could barely walk. Donna's wonderful massage techniques had me back in shape in no time at all. I admit, I was a skeptic at first- I had only known of the "traditional" massages back then and Donna was so unique. It didnt take long though and I would soon find myself describing my "obsession" to Donna and her massages. I referred anyone and everyone that would listed to Dr. Minder's practice-specifically for Donna's massages- she was amazing. It wasnt just her massages that were amazing-it was much more. Donna was a healer with her hands but also with her words and just her presence with you was soothing. I looked forward to my appointments not only for the physical massage for the body but also for the conversations- she had a way of taking the stresses-whatever they were away. Over the years, Donna helped me through my pregnancy with my son and a few years later a daughter-she also helped me deal with a previous loss- I had an "anniversary" appointment with Donna every year and there was always something extra soothing about those visits, because she shared that pain that only a mother knows. She helped me with many things that she never even knew about that I didnt speak of, they were in my mind but as she worked her magic she released them-from body and mind. When Dr, Minder's practice closed and Donna moved to The Back and Joint Center, of course I followed her, and Stephanie is great but the truth is- I would have followed Donna anywhere-she was that amazing! It was a wonderful move for Donna too- she seemed so happy there- she loved the office, her new room was so large and she loved decorating it-she always had the blanket ready for me-she knew exactly how to make me feel comfortable and that was what Donna strived for I think- making people comfortable and to heal them and she exceeded any expectation that I ever had. I feel blessed to have had the honor to have Donna in my life these past 6 years and I know she is watching over us all now and smiling. I will miss you so much Donna-you touched my life in so many ways. My closing thought is from a greeting card that I read a long time ago- "Those who gave our lives beauty live forever in our hearts" Donna was one of those people who will live forever in our hearts. I am praying for peace for your family through this time.

I have known Donna for many years in her profession as a massage therapist. She has seen me through 8 marathons and we were working on number 9. Donna was part of my training, and I am not sure if she knew what an important part she played. She got me through Boston and New York marathons, the most important ones in my life. She got me to the start line and she was waiting at the finish for me. I looked forward to my appointments so I could hear aout the her grandsons. She was so proud of them and her childen. I saw her last Wednesday and we talked about the boys. I feel very blessed to have had Donna in my life.

Donna was the love of my life. I had the joy of knowing Donna for over 10 years. She always spoke of her LOVE for Nathania, Elijah, Lathan, Chris (Rachel) and Jordan (Brianna), and all of her family. We got to talk about our LOVE for GOD, and what He was doing in our lives. I got the privillege to take to prayer any of Donna's requests and see over the years how each prayer request came to pass. I will continue to pray for all of you until I get to go home with the Lord. Donna and I spoke often of how Rapture was coming very, very, soon, and we joked that we would be able to go together, and be together for all of eternity. She just wanted to get through to Nathania, and all of her kids and Grandkids on HOW MUCH SHE LOVES YOU ALL. She wanted to have peace in her life and in her children's and grandchildren's lives. I will always remember Donna with a smile on her face and always ending with a hug. And very soon I will get to be with her in Heaven for All of Eternity! LOVE ALWAYS! Rhonda Rhodes