Kingston, NH – Donna M. (Simard) McDonald, 77, a lifelong resident of Kingston, for the last 58 years, passed away peacefully after a long fight with MS at Rockingham County Nursing Home under the guidance of hospice in Brentwood, NH.

Born in Haverhill, MA, the daughter of the late Francis A. and Caroline Simard, she attended the Haverhill Catholic Schools and graduated from St. James High School, Class of 1962. She was first employed at AT&T in North Andover and would later dedicate her life to her children and husband rather than work. She became employed at the local Plain Fare Restaurant in Kingston as a waitress once her children were all in school. Her final employment would be with EAD in Dover, NH in which she worked beside her husband until MS forced her to accept disability and retire.

Donna was married to her high school sweetheart and love of her life in which they shared their life dedicated to their children and enjoying family fun and adventures. Donna spent much time with her family during the summers and winters early on at family camps on Newfoundland Lake in Bristol, NH and Lake Winnie in Alton Bay, NH. She and Bernie would then become seasonal residents of Saco River Campground in North Conway, NH, where they spent 26 years and then made the transition to The Bluffs at Danforth Bay in Freedom, NH. Camping was such a passion of hers to be outside and be with family and friends. We will all remember her as the Crocheting Queen!! I believe every family member and many friends have enjoyed their own personal afghan compliments of Donna. She loved to crochet for her family and friends. We have been reminded by her sister, that Donna loved to dance especially with her sisters and her husband. She loved to roller skate in her teens at Skateland in Bradford, MA. Donna also enjoyed sitting for hours and watching candlepin bowling and professional golf.

In addition to her loving husband, Bernard A McDonald, who was by her side every day until she completed her journey here with us, she is survived by her three children, Jody and her husband Jay M. Palermo, Jeff McDonald and his fiancé, Sheryl Wheeler, and Julie and her husband Shon Stevens. She was fortunate to watch her beloved six grandchildren grow to become adults. They are Samantha and her husband Joshua Montgomery and Sydney Palermo and her partner Jared Hanscomb, Ryan and Jacob McDonald, and Brandon Bolduc and his wife Alie and Brooke Bolduc. And the absolute love of her life’s would be her three great-grandchildren, Gabriella Montgomery and Brodee and Hadley Bolduc.

She leaves two sisters, Irene MacAvoy and her husband, Alan of Haverhill, MA and Pat Goodrich of Haverhill, MA, her brother in-law Vincent Kissel of Haverhill, MA and also her brother-in-law Robert McDonald and his wife Dawn, of East Kingston, NH, who helped both Bernie and Donna through-out this journey. She was predeceased by her sister Joyce Kissel, brother in-law Paul Goodrich and brother in-law William McDonald and her in- laws, William and Dorothy McDonald. She also leaves many nieces and nephews including great-nieces and great-nephews in which she was close with and loved.

There will be no services but family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life in honor of Donna on December 12, 2021 at Gametime Lanes and Entertainment, 84 Haverhill Rd., Amesbury, MA. From 12:00pm to 4:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Donna’s memory to the MS Society.