12/05/2025
Donna Kay Flanders of Rural Route 3 Sumner, Illinois passed away on November 26th, 2025, around 6 A.M. at Helia Health Care Facility in Olney, Illinois.
Mother was born Donna Kay Groff on June 11th, 1943, daughter of Elmer Groff and Hazel Mae Colbert.
Donna married Charles Richard Flanders on November 25th, 1959, in Salem, Illinois. Mom and Dad remained happily married until the death of our father on October 26th, 2008. Mom remained a widow up until her passing, which was the day after what would have been their 66th wedding anniversary.
Mom was preceded in death by her parents Elmer Groff, Hazel Mae Groff Lisman, husband Charles Flanders, her first born child Richard Wayne, an older sister Wilma Jean (Groff) Salesman, younger sister Sue Ann (Groff) Shick, younger brother David Alan Groff, younger sister Renee (Lisman) Kush, niece Carla Jean (Salesman) Simmons, nephew Neil Padgett, and two grandchildren Azura and Austin Griesemer.
Mom is survived by a younger brother Larry Groff and wife Glenda of Olney, Illinois, younger brother Rex Lisman and wife Louise of Arkansas, her son Michael Robert Flanders of Marshall, Michigan, son Mark Alan Flanders of Sumner, Illinois, daughter Vanessa Westall and husband Jake Westall of Bridgeport, Illinois, granddaughters Amber Flanders (Hamilton) of Sumner, Illinois, Sydney Layne (Griesemer) Wirth and husband James Wesley Wirth of North Carolina, Kyra Elizabeth Griesemer of Bridgeport currently attending Rose Hulman in Terre Haute, Indiana, grandsons Seth Alan Flanders of Sumner, Illinois and Travis Alan Flanders of Sumner, Illinois, nieces Barbara (Salesman) Faith and husband Bob Faith of Lawrenceville, Illinois and Sally Jeanette (Salesman) Hale and husband Mark of Newburgh, Indiana, nephew Doug Padgett of Bridgeport, Illinois, great- granddaughters Kiyah Jane Harmon, Jaylynn Dawn Harmon, and Bellany Rose Harmon all of Sumner, Illinois.
Mom was laid to rest next to our father Charlie and mom’s firstborn son, Rick, on Sunday, November 30th, 2025, at 11.00 A.M. at the Bluff Cemetery in Lawrence County with Cunningham Funeral home of Bridgeport Illinois in charge of arrangements.
Our Mother was a Christian woman with a strong belief in our Creator and his son Jesus Christ. Mom had a solid hope based on the promises in the bible of the resurrection and a future world ruled by Christ where death and pain are no more.
She shared her faith with many over the years and did her part to instill in her family a love for all things good.
Mom enjoyed Bible reading, classical music, the arts, and traveling. At a young age mom had a talent for drawing, and the family still has some of her work to cherish.
Most of all though Mom’s love was her husband and family. She was a devoted wife and mother always putting her family’s needs before her own.
She had worked in the Healthcare profession as an EKG and EEG technician, retiring from Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney, Illinois and Crawford Memorial Hospital in Robinson, Illinois. Mom also spent time in Home Health Care helping others.
A few of Mom’s favorite scriptures were shared at her service, John 5:28, Malachi 3:16 and Isaiah 55: 8-11. Services concluded with the song “What a wonderful world” by Louis Armstrong in.
She did her best and left valuable life lessons to us all that the family will always be grateful for. She will be missed, and we will stand on the hope that she had of a “reuniting in the future”.
In memory of Donna, memorial gifts can be made to Shriners, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or any local charity that is helping others in our community.
Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.cunninghamfuneralhomes.com.
