The celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, January 7th at 1:00 P.M. at the Woodland Estates Clubhouse in Morgan Hill CA. Donna Mae Ratzak Kendall died Wednesday December 14 surrounded by family. Donna was born & raised in San Jose where she met and married the love of her life Rex Kendall on May 16, 1959 in Carson City, Nevada.
The family moved to Morgan Hill in 1972. She never re-married after Rex passed away (too soon) from Hodgkin Lymphoma in 1974, and then worked for IBM for about 20 years until she retired. She was a courageous single mom in an era where that role was an anomaly, and still managed to taxi her kids to 4-H and athletic activities and events.
Donna loved to play many types of card and board games and raised her kids and grand-kids to enjoy the competition and sportsmanship learned. Every family gathering included playing games. Other highlights for the grand-kids visiting were to ride the mower in the corrals and spend time with her in the pool and spa. Donna loved to garden, working hard to care for her property and it always showed.
A strong work ethic, sense of duty, honesty, and generosity toward others when they needed help are some of the values Donna passed on to her family. Donna volunteered for the Morgan Hill City Planters (planting flowers in the boxes in downtown Morgan Hill), was active in WIT (Women in Touch), Line Dancing, Woodland Estates Social Club, and her week was scheduled around various game playing groups with her beloved friends at the park.
Donna is survived by her daughter Colette Ann Burgess of San Diego CA, son Kenneth Hubert Kendall (Mary Anne) of Morgan Hill, grandchildren Nathan (Hannah), Rachel & John Burgess, Lisa Flores, Shane, Hannah & Cameron Kendall, great grandson Kayden Walker and 13 nieces and nephews. She was proceeded in death by her husband Rex Brand Kendall, parents Emil Ratzak & Anna Alorine Jewart, sister Darlene Ratzak, brother Dennis Ratzak, son-in-law Michael Thomas Burgess, and Grandson Jeremy Patrick Kendall.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the charity of your choice.
