Donna Marie Cartwright

Donna Marie Cartwright, 68, was born in Nassau, New York, to Genevieve and Arthur Overton on September 18, 1954. She passed away in Aurora, Illinois, on August 15, 2023. Much of Donna’s youth was spent in New York, where she loved to swim, fish, ice skate, and go clamming with family. In early adulthood she moved with her parents to Florida. She immediately fell in love with Florida beaches, especially Clearwater Beach. While attending Gulf High School, she met Steve Sanders. They married in 1972 and she gave birth to Suzanna, her eldest daughter.

Donna moved to Rockford, Illinois, in 1978, and married Michael Cartwright on January 1st, 1980, and became stepmother to Beth Ann Cartwright (Litteral) and Jeremy D. Cartwright. Together, she and Mike were gifted with two blonde daughters—Chelsea Marie (1989) and Meredith Lee (1991). She loved all of her children fiercely and taught them all to love nature. Each child can recall several memories of Donna hugging a beautiful tree or remarking on the beauty of the clouds. Donna’s deepest regret is that she never saw the Northern Lights. Donna’s most lasting legacy with her children is her ability to treat others with kindness and love and to show empathy to all. Her children also fondly recall her mispronunciation of common words, like mozzarella.

Donna worked at Cablevision in Rockford for over a decade, as a home daycare teacher, a private preschool teacher, and most recently as a mortgage loan processor at Corporate America Family Credit Union. In all of her positions, her coworkers described her as charismatic, dedicated, and energetic. All who knew her were touched by the light that lived in her heart.

Heaven is excited to receive Donna and has rolled out the red carpet to welcome her. She attended several area churches and had a deep faith in Jesus as Lord and God. She read her Bible often and drew inspiration from its verses, as well as participated in daily prayers. Considering her deep faith and love for God, one would be surprised to hear her swear so fervently at fellow drivers on I-90.

She is preceded in death by her mother, father, sister MaryAnn Overton Ainbinder, and brother Robert Overton. She is survived by her sister Diane Gander and daughters: Suzanna Ritter Mruk (Keith), Chelsea Sinclair (Jon), and Meredith Cartwright. She was a loving Grandma to Katherine Mykolyshyn (Oleh), Robert Ritter, Maddux Rueff, Jacqueline Sinclair, and Abigail Sinclair. She has numerous nieces and nephews, which she remembered fondly but never sent birthday cards.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, August 27, 2023, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, IL. A huge thank you is extended from the family to all who attend, in particular out of town guests. Donna’s network was far-reaching, and it is a credit to her nature that her friends and family love her enough to remember her fondly. To send online condolences and share memories, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com