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- Donna Jeanne (nee Keppen) Zellner Neal went to be with the Lord of her life and the relatives, friends and pets who predeceased her, on Wednesday, March 23, 2016. Born at 189 South Niagara Street in the City of Tonawanda on April 18, 1940, she was the daughter of the late Lewis A. and Mary (nee Cudak) Keppen; granddaughter of Louis and Gertrude (nee Fromm) Keppen Fire, and Frank and Eva (nee Mozdzierz) Cudak, and her step-grandfather, Ralph Fire, Sr.. She was predeceased by her husband, Franklin Zellner, Jr., and by her firstborn grandchild, Scott DiNatale.
She was a 1958 graduate of Tonawanda High School, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and was 1958 THS Class Valedictorian.
Since September 10, 2003, she had been a full-time volunteer, founding Director, Executive Director, and Trustee of the North Tonawanda History Museum. In 2012, she was honored as an Unsung Hero by the General Pulaski Foundation, nominated for the YWCA of Niagara Tribute to Niagara Award, and was honored as a Woman of Distinction by the Tonawanda News.
Although she stated that the most important role in her life had been that of a mother, she lived a full life, which always included music; a special lifelong love of dogs - having had four Chihuahuas; gardening and landscaping; houseplants; photography; and annual and often more frequent trips to Allegany State Park and other similar sites in New York State with her children and later with grandchildren.
In addition to her role as founder and Executive Director and Corporate Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the North Tonawanda History Museum, she edited a number of books on the history of North Tonawanda.
She is survived by three daughters, Teresa Zellner DiNatale, Catherine Zellner Triviz, and Priscilla Zellner Neal, all of North Tonawanda; four sons, Michel (Doreen Mather) Zellner, Sr. of Corfu, Frank (Carolyn Rogers) Zellner of the City of Tonawanda, Kurt Zellner of the Town of Tonawanda, and John Zellner (Danielle Oney) Neal of North Tonawanda. She is also survived by grandchildren, Valerie DiNatale (Mario) Caracas, Scott DiNatale, II, Matthew (Tiffany) DiNatale, Sr., Michael (Kristine) Zellner, Jr., Jessica Zellner, Zachary Triviz, Sara Triviz, Jesse Zellner, Jared Zellner, Ella Neal, and Callista Neal; and by great-grandchildren, Angelina Caracas, Dominic Caracas, Amelia DiNatale, Evan DiNatale, Matthew DiNatale, Jr., Ava Zellner, Landon Zellner, Lucas Zellner, and Sadie DiNatale; and her Chihuahua, Casper.
At Donna’s request, no visitation will take place. Donations in her memory may be sent to the North Tonawanda History Museum, 54 Webster Street, North Tonawanda, NY 14120. Her cremains will be interred at Elmlawn Cemetery with her parents. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
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1940 - 2016 (75 years)