Donna L. Stachowicz, 63

Donna L. Stachowicz, nee Mate, of Palatine.

Donna died peacefully on Sept. 21, 2013 in hospice care. Her husband Joe and her brother Jim were at her side. She was 63. Donna was tenacious in the face of adversity, but in her dealings with others she was always gentle and kind.

Her nickname, "Catmama", which was on her license plate, referred to her longstanding selfless dedication to find homes for rescued animals. It was emblematic of her caring and compassionate essence. She will be missed very much by all who knew her.

Donna is survived by her husband, Joseph, of 40 years, siblings, James (Patrice Weiman) Mate, Elaine (Mark) Bahadurian and Cindy (Phil Luber) Mate, brother-in-law, Ricky Stachowicz, nieces and nephews, Elizabeth Graff, Holly Mate-Luber, Bill More and Max Stachowicz, and great niece, Norea Graff and beloved cats, Ziggy, Veronica, Ginger and Robbie.

Donna graduated in 1973 from Middlesex County College, NJ, with a degree in Nursing. An avid Bears fan, she was also a longtime volunteer and foster mom for abandoned and abused cats as part of The Buddy Foundation where she served on the board.

Funeral Information

Visitation Tuesday, Sept. 24, 3 to 9 p.m. Funeral Wednesday, Sept. 25, 9:30 a.m. from Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 185 E. Northwest Hwy., Palatine to St. Theresa Catholic Church for Mass at 10 AM. Interment St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery.

Donations Information

Memorial donations in Donna's name to The Buddy Foundation, 64 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005 would be appreciated.