Obituary of Donna Lee Bernaski
Donna Lee Bernaski (nee: McIntyre)
Born June 23, 1962
Port Arthur, Ontario
Donna, late of Regina, SK passed away peacefully on Friday, March 26, 2021 at the age of 58 years. She was predeceased by her father Douglas McIntyre; and grandparents Bob and Eva Notschaele. Donna is survived by common-law-partner Kelvin Hawkins; parents Charlie Gosselin and Florence McIntyre; children Chris McIntyre (JJ), Brooke Guedo (Riley), Scott McInnis (Manisha), and Brett McInnis; grandchildren Layne, Nikita (Alex), Trey, Auden, Archer, Leo, Amara, Ariel, and Sebastian; great-grandchild Jayden; siblings Elizabeth Bonter (Lorne), Debbie McIntyre, Terrance McIntyre, Charles McIntyre, and Jeff Gosselin (Jackie); as well as many special nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
During Donna’s adolescent years, she was not only an effortless scholar but a sport buff too. A pretty well-rounded individual with a quick wit and great smile. She played basketball and volleyball in high school and was known to give the boys a run for their money in tackle football after school. Donna was well known for holding her own in regard to school and sports, but mostly in regard to life struggles. She was one of those people who never had to try to hard to do anything, but what she did she did with a fierce passion. Donna was an honest, loving, and loyal soul who would go out of her way to give you the shirt off her back or her last dollar. A person who would never let you go hungry and would share her last crumb. Donna had a varied background and as she evolved so did her work and education. She started out at the tender age of 18 taking a program through Suntep in Fort Qu’Appelle where she learned to tutor the illiterate, for lack of better term. She taught her Grandma Eva to write her name and tutored others upon completion. This shows how Donna’s character and heart worked. She moved to Regina in the 80’s where she worked as a server at 7 Oaks, and made many friends along to way, while living with her cousin Charolette. Later she achieved a diploma in Bookkeeping. Donna is proudly sporting a smiling face with her diploma in hand, here in her obituary. This diploma would bode her well in the future. She took time off for a bit to take care of her boys, but not too long. Donna and family made the move to North Vancouver where she took a course as a Native Youth Worker. This interested her giving heart and gave her something not only to challenge her mind but a great purpose and path. With her diploma in hand, she took on this new career with a lightness and love. Donna loved working as a court worker representing Native Youth in Vancouver. The youth she represented greatly respected her, as she did them. She was real. People listen to those that truly listen to them and Donna was always a great listener. She had great emotional intelligence and would always take your opinion into consideration. She felt their situations deep within and it caused some tough times as she cared so much. Donna moved from BC and sadly had to leave this career as she needed to start anew. She was not able to utilize this education or avenue ever again, but I believe it served her well during her lifetime. Instead, Donna pulled out an old card and went back to bookkeeping. At this time, she worked at the Regina Friendship Center, once again making many long-time friends. Donna had a few other positions during her lifetime, but heath reasons kept her at home for some time now. Though her great intelligence was never wasted or to be ignored, she was quick with that wit and was not shy about sharing her opinions. All you had to do was talk to her to know what a brilliant and loving soul she was. Donna was a spitfire, she was boisterous, loving, and sensitive. Her talkativeness and quick wit will be missed by all of those that loved her. She was an awesome person, you just had to talk to her to know.
My mom was always a brilliant person to talk to and that never changed. If you were having a problem rest assured that she had been through it and worse. She was very protective to those she cared about and had thrown herself into danger many times to prove it. Mom is leaving a giant hole in anyone who knew her. She had so much wisdom and was never afraid of sharing her opinion (good or bad). She had a hard life, but I cannot remember a single bad thing now. All I remember is her smile and laugh. Many things changed my life, but she was always constant, strong, loving, and capable.
Donna had a very boisterous personality and a laugh that will forever be etched in the hearts and minds of those lucky enough to know her. She had the ability to always make everyone feel welcome and was a natural born caregiver. Even when she had little to nothing, Donna went out of her way to give. You never left her house without some little trinket or knickknack that had remined you of her. She was the definition of heart. Empathetic, loving, doting, and compassionate. One could really go on about her forever….
There are so many things that I could say about Donna. One thing that always stood out the most and was always the biggest reason I loved her and looked up to her, was that she was real. She did not pretend to be perfect and made you feel like it was okay to be flawed. You could go to her with anything, and she would never judge you. Donna would just show you love and do her best to help you through whatever the issue was. She never made me feel anything but loved and supported by her, even when her brutal honesty was not easy to hear. Not many people can humble you while also making you feel like it’s okay to be human, make mistakes, and that no matter how you screwed up they would love you anyway and always be there. Due to COVID restrictions, a Celebration of Donna’s Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations in memoriam may be made to Ranch Ehrlo Society – Attn: Carole Bryant at 1951 Francis Street, Regina, SK S4V 6V1.
