Donna Lee Eleazer

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Donna Lee Eleazer, a member of the Class of 1973. We extend our condolences to Donna’s family, friends, and classmates.

A beautiful obituary was prepared and published by the

Strano & Feeley Family Funeral Home, 635 Churchmans Rd., Newark, DE 19702, (302) 731-5459

and is copied below;

Born March 23, 1954 — Resting in peace March 7, 2025
Through no fault of her own, Donna didn’t make it to Brookhaven r Hospital to be born. She came into this world at the doctor’s office which was closer. If you knew her mother, you would understand. She was a healthy, happy baby, filled with strength and power. 

Zeb, Donna’s grandfather, taught her how to fry an egg before she could reach the stove. One day Donna and her father passed a local dog show. They happened to have the family dog in the car. A five- or six-year-old Donna entered Chief (½ boxer ½ Great Dane), obviously bigger than the little girl holding the leash. Chief known for eating, sleeping, and referred to as the big brown dog, won “Best in show,” led by Donna’s firm tugs and commands. “Sit! Lay down! Rollover!”
Donna was a Brownie and a Girl Scout. This is where she began to understand civic duty. She celebrated both her African-American and Native-American heritage. 

Her religious training was fostered at Ruth A.M.E. Zion Church in Bellport, NY, as well as The Sayville Congregational United Church of Christ, where she sang in the choir and played the Innkeeper in the churches’ production of “Emmanuel”. She developed a passionate, Christian devotion which carried her to the end of her life. She attended several other churches before making St. Mary’s A.M.E. Zion Church in Medford, NY, her church home. It is where Donna and her son attended church services until she moved to Delaware. 

In the early sixties, Donna’s parents bought her a Magnus organ for Christmas. She mastered the DO-RE-MI song from the Sound of Music. Much to everyone’s chagrin, she played it from morning to night. By fourth grade, she was taking violin lessons in school. She played through high school and was even invited to play with Bay Area Friends of Fine Arts, (BAFFA). It was quite an honor to be invited to play with that orchestra. She was an extremely talented violinist. Donna also performed with the nonprofit, Up with People. Her love of music eclipsed genres, including classical, R&B, Gospel, and Broadway to name a few. 

Donna was a summer youth counselor for the Town of Islip. She loved the ocean and the beach, so it was not a surprise that she chose to work as a lifeguard at Byron Lake Pool during high school. Donna loved to travel. You could guarantee that wherever she went, it had either a beach or a pool, if not both. 

Donna’s story cannot be told without stating, she graduated with a degree in Sociology from SUNY Plattsburg in 1979. She went on to work in Youth Services and later in Adult Services. It was not the least bit unusual to find Donna taking youth or adult clients on field trips or for a ride to Carvel on 2-for-1 Wednesdays or even home for a backyard barbeque. This was just Donna. 

On May 27, 1994, Donna gave birth to the true love of her life, Kevin Anthony Bethea. From the time Kevin was a toddler, he and his mother made their annual pilgrimage to Disney World in Florida. There she shared her love of all things Disney, including the Mouse. Donna was a loyal supporter of Kevin’s participation with Sayville High School’s wrestling and football programs. 

Donna was predeceased by her parents LeRoy F. Eleazer and Madlyn H. (Fitzgerald) Eleazer. She leaves behind her son Kevin A. Bethea, Ashley Crowder (mother of her Grandchildren), Davian Anthony Bethea and Zariah Naomi Crowder-Bethea, her sisters Carol L. Winslow, (Charles), Gail A. Brooks, a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends. 

Relatives and friends are invited to the visitation on Sunday, March 23, 2025, from 2 to 3 PM at Strano and Feeley Family Funeral Home, 635 Churchman’s Road in Newark, where a memorial service will be held at 3 PM. The interment will be private. Please, in lieu of flowers, we are asking that you donate towards the future education of Donna’s grandchildren by using Venmo. The account name is Davian and Zariah @Ashley-Crowder-40 Thank you.

To watch the webcast for Donna Lee Eleazer please click the link below.
https://webcasts.lifetributes.com/1354819

A memorial page has been created in Donna’s honor, and the Sayville Alumni Association will remember Donna annually on her birthday, March 23rd.  We hope that this remembrance will provide solace to those who knew and loved her.

Thank you to Evie (Hausske) Fuson for informing us of Donna’s passing.

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