Donna Sue Cook

It is with great sadness that the family of Donna Sue Cook (nee Jenkins) of Sewell, NJ announces her unexpected passing on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at the age of 73. Donna was lovingly surrounded by her husband, son, family, and friends as she quietly and safely arrived Home. Donna was born in Woodbury, New Jersey on October 14, 1949, the eldest child of father Walter E. Jenkins and mother Ruth Jackson Jenkins. The family settled in Elmer, New Jersey. Soon a sister, Eileen, and a brother, Timothy, joined the household. Donna and her siblings were blessed with a childhood filled with sunset rides, nature walks, bird watching, arrowhead and seashell hunts, extended-family visits, road trips, books, church activities, and a lot of love. After graduating from Bridgeton High School in 1968, Donna pursued her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Glassboro State College. She later earned her doctorate from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. Donna combined her passions for teaching and for special needs children by returning to Glassboro State College and eventually becoming a professor in the Special Education Department. Donna spent her career training her beloved students to be the best special needs teachers that they could possibly become. She was an excellent teacher, mentor, and advisor. In 2002, Donna married the love of her life, Charles Andrew Cook, “Andy.” After retirement, the couple became “snowbirds” and split their time between their homes in St. Augustine, FL, and Sewell. Donna particularly loved being home in New Jersey so she could be near her son, Joshua Hathaway, his wife, Lisa Ogle Hathaway, and her three grandchildren, Kate, Emma, and JJ, as well as children Cindy and Mark Thomas and their daughter and son-in-law, Chelsea and Dan Hovern, Tracy Cook and Rick Amburg and their children, Austin and Madison, Jessi And Steve Oliver and children, Bethany, Matthew, and Christian, and Alex and Molly Cook. Donna also loved spending time with her niece and nephews who she fondly referred to as her “first babies.” Outgoing and fun, Donna was fiercely loyal, extravagantly generous, and passionately loving to her family, friends, students, neighbors, colleagues, and dogs. Whether she was talking to her violets and orchids, reading, needle working, collecting Pez or Campbell Soup memorabilia, telling a slightly exaggerated story for a laugh, snuggling with her precious pup, lunching with her dear friends, wrapping Goofy Gifts for Christmas, relaxing side by side with Andy, watching her grandkids play a game, celebrating a holiday with her family or shopping for anything (her most favorite sport!), Donna enjoyed her life. Even with innumerable surgeries and health challenges, she faced her circumstances, difficult or not, with courage, grit, grace, and a sturdy faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus. She lived and loved wide and well. Her bright smile said it all. We invite you to please join us for a celebration of her life on her 74th birthday, Saturday, October 14, at Living Faith Alliance Church, 1987 South Lincoln Avenue, Vineland, New Jersey 08361. Visitation will be from 9:00 to 10:30 AM with the memorial service following. In lieu of flowers, friends wishing to honor Donna and her lifelong concern for special needs children are encouraged to make a memorial contribution to Tanalian Bible Camp in Port Alsworth, Alaska. The camp has an urgent need to become handicap accessible so that they may accommodate more children. Donna’s great-nephew and niece, Matthew and Abi McWhorter, work at this camp in the Alaskan bush. You can mail your donation to: Tanalian Bible Camp, PO Box 176, Port Alsworth, AK 99653. You can also find them online at tanalianbiblecamp.org/give. Please designate the Kiononia project and indicate your gift is in Donna’s memory. We would so appreciate it. Thank you. We know Donna, safe in the arms of Jesus, will be smiling.

Donna Sue Cook

October 3, 2023

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Donna Sue Cook

October 3, 2023

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