Dona Mae (McDonald) Schaefer, 86, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, at Samaritan Bethany in Rochester, Minnesota, where she resided for five years.

Dona was born in Austin, Minnesota, on Jan. 11, 1930, to William and Florence McDonald. She attended schools in Austin and graduated from Adams High School in 1948. Austin, Minnesota, was her home almost all of her life. Dona married Benno Schaefer in 1950, they later divorced. Along with being a very busy mother, in the late 1960’s and early ’70’s, she worked at Marigold Dairy, delivered newspapers and waitressed. Most of her working years were at the Hormel Corporate Office, where she retired in 1995. She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Dona enjoyed reading, watching movies, knitting, all sewing hobbies and she especially loved quilting. She was very active in the Austin quilting community. She won a grand champion purple ribbon at the Mower County Fair for her fine quilting in 1988.

Dona is survived by her seven children: Barbara Schaefer of Austin, Minnesota, Debra (Wayne) Rysavy of Loveland, Colorado, Kathryn (Ronald) Coyle of Sun City Center, Florida, Jane Schaefer of Apple Valley, Minnesota, William (Denise) Schaefer of Rosemount, Minnesota, David Schaefer of Isabella, Minnesota, Peggy Johnson of Rochester, Minnesota; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; two brothers: Thomas (Norma) McDonald of Mills River, North Carolina, and Alan (Patricia) McDonald of Muscatine, Iowa; nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant daughter; and infant grandson.

A memorial service celebrating Dona’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016, at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary Chapel, 209 Second Ave. NW, Austin, with Father Marty Schaefer (Dona’s nephew) officiating. Visitation will be one hour before the service on Saturday. A luncheon will follow at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary. All family and friends of Dona and her children are invited to attend. Cremation has been conducted. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Austin, Minnesota.

The family would like to express their thanks and gratitude to her caregivers at Samaritan Bethany and Seasons Hospice in Rochester.