Donna M. (Norgoal) Allan

Donna May Allan of Tiverton, RI the daughter of Waino Norgoal and Ellen May Hankinson passed at home surrounded by family on Wednesday August 31^st 2022 at the age of 75. 

Donna grew up in Granby, MA and graduated from Maynard High school. She eventually moved to Westford, MA where she had her two children Lisa and Michael Clemente and spent time at her family’s camp on Long Sought-for Pond. After moving back to Maynard in her late 20’s, through mutual friends she met the love of her life, Robert F. Allan. Their love story would go on for 45 wonderful years creating beautiful memories along the way. Trips to York Beach, ME and late nights at Nubble Lighthouse would lead to an engagement at the Way Side Inn Gris Mill. They would wed at the Martha Mary Chapel, work together at Digital and meet for lunch at the Copper Kettle. They would go on to raise their two children into adulthood on George Road in Maynard and risked it all with a move to Clover, South Carolina. Here, Donna began work for Compaq and opened her and Bob’s hot dog boat business on Lake Wylie SC. She set off on adventures to Bermuda, Bahamas, England, Scotland, Hawaii and finally her long awaited journey to Italy. She settled down in Tiverton, RI where she would live on to experience her four beautiful grandchildren grow up.

It seemed no matter where her travels took her or where she lived, all roads would lead back to her love for Nubble Lighthouse and those early days where Bob stole her heart. To her friends and family the lighthouse would become symbolic of this endearing woman.

After many years working as a Financial Analyst in the corporate world, Donna hung up her pantsuit for her bathing suit and pursued her love for the water as a swim instructor. She was fondly referred to as the “Toddler Whisper” at the YMCA in Middletown, RI where she taught swim classes and life guarded for over 20 years. She dedicated her time selflessly to countless children and adults who learned how to swim under her watchful eye and proudly passed on her knowledge of a lifelong skill.

During her spare time Donna enjoyed researching her ancestors and family tree. She’d jump on the opportunity to knit a sweater for your new baby or make you a warm afghan. She also remained an active organizer of her class reunions and kept in touch with countless friends and relatives.

Donna, we will miss sitting around the kitchen table with a cup of tea and you in your flannel night gown. We will miss watching It’s a Wonderful Life with a big bowl of Chex mix at Christmas, a tradition you brought to your family and will carry on through generations to come. We will miss your laugh, your smile and crazy ability to drive from South Carolina to Rhode Island just to watch the kids trick or treat only to turn around and go back the next day. No matter how much we miss you, it gives us solace to know that just like the lighthouse you are watching over us, guiding us and shining your light to keep us safe from troubled waters.

Donna is survived by her adoring husband Robert F. Allan, her children Lisa Clemente Lohrum and Michael Clemente, and her grandchildren Madison Lohrum, Frederick Lohrum, Calista Clemente, Abigail Clemente and the Allan Family who took her in as their own. 

She will be fondly remembered as “Mom, “Nana”, Auntie Donna, “Miss Donna” and affectionately by Bob as “My Girlfriend”.

A memorial service will be held for Donna Saturday, September 24, at 11am at Fowler-Kennedy Funeral Home, Maynard, MA.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Greater Fall River Community Food Pantry at 235 Nashua Street, Fall River, MA 02721 774.365.4292 website: www.greaterfrcfoodpantry.com