Donna K. Hoell, 78, passed away June 18, 2025. Born and raised in Brookhaven, PA, she was a graduate of Sun Valley High School and went on to graduate from West Chester University with a teaching degree. She spent her career as a teacher of elementary and learning support students at the Chichester School District until her retirement.
Donna loved meeting with friends for lunch and socializing, attending craft fairs and collecting Star Trek memorabilia. She was an avid reader and enjoyed puzzle books. She absolutely loved everything about Christmas time and adored her cats. In her younger years she enjoyed square dancing and met the love of her life doing so. She was a fun loving kind woman and will be deeply missed by all who loved her.
She is predeceased by her beloved husband of 43 years Richard Hoell; her parents Ralph and Mable Kirchdoerfer; and her sister Patricia Culleney.
She is survived by a few close friends.
A memorial service will take place on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at the Bateman-Allen Funeral Home, 4220 Edgmont Ave., Brookhaven, PA, 19015 at 1:30pm. Burial will be held privately at Valley Forge Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Andy’s Friends Cat Rescue, PO Box 7303, Wilmington, DE, 19803 (www.andysfriends.org) Online condolences can be sent via www.batemanallenfuneralhome.com
Condolence(1)-
Ian Varrassi says
November 3, 2025 at 9:44 amSuch a beautiful obituary for both Aunt Donna & Uncle Rich. Reading them brings back so many fond moments. It says so much when friends become lifelong ones — and then those friends become family.
So many Christmas memories come flooding back: baking countless cookies (especially my favorite buckeyes), the dining and kitchen tables completely covered; Santa’s Secret Workshop shopping trips, and Chinese takeout for dinner—blurry memories of the Goshen Fair; and fun visits to the Commerce Ave house.
I still laugh thinking about the painted pink mailbox prank and Aunt Donna’s love of hippos, cats, and Star Trek — and how she always gave the most thoughtful and fun Christmas gifts. Uncle Rich’s love for trains and biking always stood out too — do I really remember him biking all the way from Brookhaven to our house in Coatesville?
They were such a wonderful couple and truly kindhearted family members. Rich was a great storyteller, and I can still hear Aunt Donna’s laugh — her warmth and presence in this world will be deeply missed.