In Loving Memory of Our Beloved Mother Donna Marie Chaffee

On Monday, June 9th 2025, we tragically lost our mom to dementia, ending her suffering. It was a long and difficult battle, but she passed peacefully with her three children, Charlie, Tony, and Catie, by her side.

It’s impossible to sum up her life and who she was, as she meant more than she ever knew to her children, family, and friends. We couldn’t have asked for a more loving, devoted, hilarious, witty, and beautiful mother and friend. She fiercely loved her family and showed us what it means to sacrifice for the ones you love. She was loyal and kind, always making new friends wherever she went, which she also delighted in—embarrassing her kids to no end. But she lived freely—enjoyed dancing at restaurants to music she loved, taking endless photographs of beautiful landscapes and, as we grew up, traveling and adventuring, and ensuring she spent as much time as possible with family and friends near and far.

It feels terribly unfair to be robbed of a future with our beautiful mom, but we cherish the many, many years and countless beloved memories we all have of her and our lives together. We will miss you endlessly, mom. We love you always and forever.

We are reaching out with heavy hearts to ask for your support during this difficult time. We’re raising funds to help cover the cost of cremation services and to honor her memory with a celebration of life. Any support you can offer means more than words can express.

We plan to hold this memorial in her beloved hometown of Newport, Vermont this October—her favorite month, in the season she loved most.

Details about the exact date and location will follow as plans come together, but we wanted to share our intention to gather in her memory, surrounded by the beautiful people she loved and cherished.