SOUTH PORTLAND – Donna May Johnson passed away Sept. 22, 2023 after a long fight with congestive heart failure and advancing dementia under loving care of the staff at Pinnacle Health and Rehab facility in South Portland, where she not only had the finest care by the staff but had three of her children and son-in-law also working there, so she always had family watching over her to the end.

She was born May 11, 1941, as one of five children born to parents Arthur and Helen Cromwell. Raised in South Portland, she graduated from South Portland High School in 1961 with her sister, Sandra. She followed school by working alongside her mother at one of Portland’s many sardine canneries before moving on to Songo Shoe of Portland and finishing her working life at the Holiday Inn By The Bay.

While working at Songo Shoe she met Bernard Johnson who she would later marry and provide him with four children: two daughters and two sons. Although her marriage lasted just six years, Donna continued to do anything in her power to raise her kids to be the best they could be. As her parents’ health declined, she left the working world earlier than normal to take care of them as well as bring up her kids and care for the old family home on Kelley Street.

Donna enjoyed many different hobbies that included knitting, crocheting, doing puzzles, and embroidery. She was a big fan of English Premier League Soccer, NASCAR races, and television game shows. Even late in life she would normally be found watching 30-year-old reruns of “Match Game”, “What’s My Line” or “The Price Is Right”, even if she had seen each episode 20 or more times.

Her greatest joy in life was being there in person despite failing health to see her youngest daughter marry her boyfriend, Jim, and the births of her three grandchildren, who all share the same birthday on Dec. 22. She was further blessed to be able to attend in person the marriage of her grandson, Peter, to his girlfriend, Zoe, at the Poland Spring Resort in 2022.

Donna was predeceased by both her parents, Arthur and Helen Cromwell; brothers Malcome and Franklin, and sister, Marlene.

She is survived by her sister, Sandra Walton of Royalton, Vt.; children, Bernard Jr. (Billy) of South Portland, Gail Johnson of Scarborough, Arthur Johnson of South Portland, Rhonda Merrill and husband of Scarborough; grandchildren, Arthur Merrill of Scarborough, Franklin Merrill of Scarborough, Peter Merrill and wife Zoe of Portland; nieces Tammy, Debra, Heidi, Kristin, and nephew, Scott, all of Vermont; as well as the many friends she made over the years.

The family would like to thank the staff at Pinnacle Health and Rehab of South Portland, as well as the staff from Beacon Hospice for their compassionate care of our Mom during her stay at the facility.

Visitation will be 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 12 p.m., on Sunday, Oct. 1 at Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Rd., South Portland. Interment will be 1 p.m., at Highland Memorial Cemetery, South Portland, following the service.

Seeing her be happy when she took part in some of the various activities undertaken by staff to bring joy to the residents, we as a family would like to request that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Donna’s name to:

Resident Activity Fund,

c/o Pinnacle Nursing

and Rehab,

42 Anthoine St.,

South Portland, ME 04106