Donna S. Steiner, 74, of Fair Haven, passed away at home with family by her side Aug. 6. Donna was born in Washington, D.C. to the late Leland and Donna (neé Watkins) Swart. Donna was a graduate of Bernardsville High School (1963) and the Douglass College of Rutgers University (1967).
Donna is survived by her best friend and beloved daughter Jennifer, her son-in-law Nick and her three grandchildren, Caden, Chloe and Callie, who will always remain the three greatest joys of her life. Donna is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Susan and John Rice, her brother Leland Swart Jr. and her nieces and nephew, Erica, Hillary and Daniel.
Donna’s greatest legacy will be how she lived her life and all of the countless people and animals she has helped. She was living proof that one person could single-handedly change the world for the better. Volunteering wasn’t just an activity for Donna, it was a way of life.
Throughout her life Donna traveled numerous times to Haiti to assist in the building of schools and orphanages, she co-founded and co-chaired the Fair Haven Be A Good Neighbor committee, she volunteered for many years at the Monmouth County SPCA, she visited numerous nursing homes and schools with her beloved Newfoundlands for pet therapy, she repeatedly volunteered at the Crop Walk, she fed and clothed the homeless, she registered countless people to vote and wrote thousands of postcards to help elect political candidates she supported. And she did all of this while continuously and repeatedly fostering and rehabilitating homeless pets.
Even with all of the time she spent volunteering, Donna was always there for her family. Fifteen years ago she became a grandma and since then she spent unlimited hours swimming, reading and cooking with her grandchildren, oftentimes babysitting so her daughter could participate in her own numerous volunteer engagements.
In Donna’s honor, her family urges everyone to follow her example and make a difference in the world. Of course, adopting or fostering a homeless pet would bring the biggest smile to Donna’s face. In lieu of that, please consider making a donation to Loveafoster, The Donna Steiner Memorial Fund c/o the Monmouth County SPCA, 260 Wall St., Eatontown, NJ 07724.
A celebration of Donna’s life will be held Sunday, Aug. 25 from 4-7 p.m. at the home of Jen and Nick Crowell. All family and friends are welcome to pay your respects and celebrate the life of a phenomenal woman who genuinely made the world a better place and whose absence will be profoundly felt by all who knew and loved her.
For more information about the celebration of life or to send condolences, please email Donna’s daughter at jennifercrowell888@gmail.com.
