Donna Mae Lafreniere

Donna LaFreniere January 31, 1925 - December 22, 2022 San Luis Obispo, California - Donna Mae LaFreniere December 22, 2022 San Luis Obispo, California - Donna passed away peacefully on December 22, at the age of 97, surrounded by her loving family. Donna was born January 31, 1925 in Bellingham, WA. After she lost her father at the age of 3 she lived her early years in her grandparents cabin in the woods with her mother and 3 sisters. She often talked of walking alone through the forest to attend a one room schoolhouse. Later, she moved to Bellingham, WA with her mother. She always talked of her love of music, especially listening to drum and band music. In high school, Donna became a majorette, twirling a large baton and leading the band. After high school she attended the University of WA. During World War II she worked at Boeing assembling bomb racks on the B17 bomber. After the war she met her future husband, Wally LaFreniere, at a dance. They were married in 1949 until his death in 2001. Together they raised 4 children in Wenatchee, WA where they established LaFreniere Construction Co. Donna was involved in the business, helping to plan and design homes. As a family, they loved camping at Lake Chelan and boating. Donna loved water, swimming and water skiing. They learned to fly and bought their own plane. In 1962, they decided to move to San Luis Obispo to expand their construction company and build commercially. In SLO, Donna continued to be a partner in the construction business and helped establish connections in the community. She was a member of the Altrusa Club and took up golfing at the Country Club. Together they took up advanced square and round dancing and found that they loved it. They became expert dancers, wearing beautiful outfits and performing with other clubs in different cities. Donna square danced until she was 90. Through the years Donna has continued to live in her beautiful home on Laguna Lake. She loved to be involved with her family and kept up strong, loving relationships with all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wally. She is succeeded by her 4 children: Linda (Spencer) Meyer, Larry (Teresa) LaFreniere, Paula (Mark) Milham and Gary LaFreniere, 8 grandchildren: Justin, Kara, Melanie, Matthew, Michael, Melissa, John, Kristina; 11 great grandchildren: Emery, Weston, Silas, Calvin, Kaisen, Colt, Ethan, Wyatt, Rylee, Jonathan, and James plus 2 more on the way.