Julia Bittner Donovan

Avid Gardener And Loving Wife, Mother, And Grandmother

Julia Bittner Donovan, 80, devoted wife of the late Cornelius Donovan, III, formerly of Fairfield, died February 12 in Lord Chamberlain Nursing Home, Stratford. Born and raised in Wood, Penn., Mrs Donovan resided in Bridgeport and Fairfield for most of her life before recently moving to Newtown.

She is survived by her three daughters, Mary Elander and her husband, Skip, of Newtown, Patricia Heigel and her husband, John, of Sandy Hook, and Catherine Donovan of Marionville, Va.; eight grandchildren, Patricia Heigel, Lisa Shelton, Eric Heigel, Joshua Heigel, Jennifer Hogg, Matthew Hogg, Michele Wood, and Justin Elander; one great-grandson, Joshua Heigel; and several nieces and nephews.

She was a retired assembler for Remington-Rand Corporation. An avid gardener, Julia was especially proud of the many years of improvements she and her husband accomplished to their home. In addition to being a caring, loving wife, mother, and grandmother, she will be remembered for her strong constitution and attention to detail.

Funeral services were held February 16 in the Lesko & Polke Funeral Home in Fairfield Center, and in St Ann Church, Bridgeport. Interment followed in St John Cemetery in Monroe.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Connecticut VNA Hospice Program, The Masonic Charity Foundation of Connecticut, PO Box 70, Wallingford CT 06492.

The Newtown Bee        February 17, 2006