Donna Lee Critchfield died on Tuesday, Nov. 2, from complications from a stroke and had family by her side. She was born in 1938 in Yuba City and spent the majority of her life here in Colusa.
She maintained a joyful spirit throughout her life. Among her many accomplishments, she became an insurance agent, licensed pilot, certified scuba diver, and master gardener. Most days you could find Donna outside maintaining her beautiful garden.
She showed a strong commitment to her family, church, and community through numerous acts of service. She spent decades at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, serving as a lay minister and Senior Warden. She served in city government both as the Mayor as well as a City Councilor. She also worked with programs that promoted child and adult literacy, water conservation, youth mentorship, and food security.
She survived her parents, Thomas Brown, Ella Marty, and Joe Marty, her sister Betty Brown, and her husbands Donald Fusaro, Jr. (married 1957) and Jack Critchfield (married 1996). She is survived by her children, Dennis Fusaro and Diane Mabray, their spouses Lora and Phil, her grandchildren Drake, Dylan, Elizabeth, Miles, Patience, and Patrick, their spouses Tiffany, Larrell, Beth, Chainé, and Rusty as well as her great grandchildren, Evangelina, Kolsyn, and Bristol.
Her family is inspired by her commitments and see them as an enduring challenge to leave the community in a better place than where they found it. They hope that her legacy inspires others as well.
Her wishes were in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Stephens, Shriners Hospital for Children, or the Colusa Adult Literacy Program.
Memorial will be held at St. Stephens on Friday, Nov. 19, at 10 AM. Reception to follow at Colusa Golf and Country Club. ■
PUBLISHED 11/11/2021 • COLUSA COUNTY PIONEER REVIEW #2021-5190