LaDONNA "DONNA" E. CRIST

LaDonna E. "Donna" Crist, 98, of Piqua, passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Brookdale of Piqua. She was born December 31, 1927 in St. Mary's, Ohio to the late Robert and Matilda (Buehler) Brandewie. She married John "Jack" Crist on May 7, 1949 in Piqua, and he preceded her in death on December 11, 2004.

Donna is survived by four daughters, Susan (Neill) Haas of Piqua, Carolyn (Randi) Pearson of Piqua, Patricia Swofford (Darren Durst) of Gig Harbor, Washington, and Joan (Tony) Kleeman of Mason, Ohio; and five sons, John (Maureen) Crist of Sonoma, California, Peter (Stephanie) Crist of Hinsdale, Illinois, Charles (Becky) Crist of St. George Island, Florida, Michael (Mary) Crist of Piqua, and Steven (Suzie) Crist of Franklin, Tennessee. She is also survived by one brother, Richard (Gail) Brandewie of Piqua; two sisters, Eunice Stueve of Dayton and Marilyn Hissong of Piqua; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Wilma “Pinky” Jordan and Bernice Lewis; three brothers-in-law, Robert Jordan, Donald Stueve, and Jan Hissong, and sister-in-law, Patricia (Sam) Kunst; son-in-law, Neill Haas, and daughter-in-law, Robin Crist; three grandsons, Samuel Pearson, Jordan Crist, and Xavier Crist, and two step-grandchildren, Erin and Cory Kinsella.

Donna had 29 grandchildren: Myndy Crist (James), Meehan Crist (Tim), Josh Crist (Meg), Seth Crist (Laura), Zach Crist (Kathryn), Jordan Crist, Emma MacGuidwin (Steve), Jack Haas (Mackenzie), Sam Pearson, Rich Pearson (Lynsey), John Pearson (Jamie), Laura Rohrer (Brent), Andy Pearson (Megan), Shelby Swofford, Sydney Swofford, Kaitlyn Crist, McKenzie Crist (DJ), Xavier Crist, Romie Crist (Adro), Sam Kleeman, Jack Kleeman, Gus Kleeman, Erin Kinsella, Colleen Kinsella, Cory Kinsella, Brent Crist (Clare), Colin Crist (Carlli), Maddy Gilliland, and Libby Gilliland. She had 30 great-grandchildren.

Donna graduated from Piqua Catholic High School in 1945 and retired from Security Pacific Financial Services of Troy, then worked part time at the Second Story Gallery of Piqua. She was an active member of St. Mary Catholic Church, volunteering at the church and Piqua Catholic School. She was a member of the YWCA and Friends of the Piqua Public Library. Donna enjoyed traveling to visit with her children, spending time with her siblings, who were her best friends, and playing cards.

Donna was warm and kind to everyone she met and had many friends. She had impeccable fashion sense. She loved basketball, baseball, and football, especially college football. She attended her children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events, traveled to Notre Dame games with her husband, and later in life never missed an Ohio State or Notre Dame game on TV. She kept up with world events and popular culture, read a book a week, and was sharp, funny, good-natured, and gracious to the end. Donna made each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren think they were her favorite.

Enough cannot be said about the care and love our mom received at Brookdale for the last six years of her life. Our family could not be more grateful.   

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 27, 2026 at St. Mary Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. Isaiah Callan officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at the Jamieson & Yannucci Funeral Home.

Guestbook condolences and expressions of sympathy, to be provided to the family, may be expressed through jamiesonandyannucci.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the Samuel F. Pearson Fund through the Piqua Education Foundation, P.O. Box 201, Piqua, Ohio 45356, or the Jordan A. Crist Scholarship Fund, 306 N. Grant St., Hinsdale, Ill., 60521.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of LaDONNA "DONNA" E. CRIST, please visit our floral store.