Barbara Donovan Obituary (1954 – 2022) – Toledo, OH

November 5, 1954 – February 14, 2022

Barbara L. Donovan (Zientara), age 67, passed away on February 14, 2022 at her home in Riga, Michigan with her loving family by her side. Barbara was born on November 5th, 1954 in Toledo, Ohio to the late Richard and Rita Zientara (Nitz).

Barbara graduated from Bowsher High School in 1971 where she had already met and married the love of her life, Michael Donovan. For the next 50 adventurous years, Barb and Mike raised three children in 21 houses and 4 states until finally settling into their dream farmhouse in Riga in 1996.

Barb spent most of her life working in the field of medical administration starting as a unit clerk at St. Vincent Hospital in the 1970s. She later worked as an office manager for a team of cardiothoracic surgeons, a billing manager for a smaller cardiology practice and most recently as a revenue maximizer for Mercy Health Care. Barb also worked as a waitress, a receptionist, a bookkeeper and even sold real estate in the early 2000’s in southeastern Michigan. By far her proudest job titles were that of Mother and Grandmother- and she was a master at both.

Barb’s passions, besides her grandchildren, were her flowers, her long wrap around front porch and her antique collection. She loved traveling with Mike to Florida, to the North Georgia Mountains and to the beaches of Northern Michigan, especially Manistee. Barb would read in the sun and watch Mike fish until it was time to hit the antique stores. For many years the highlight of Barb’s life was hosting Thanksgiving Dinner, wherein she donned all the women with her collection of antique aprons. Barb loved bingo, euchre and she never passed up a Wheel of Fortune slot machine. Barb was proud of her Polish heritage and to be the granddaughter of Toledo police officer George Zientara, killed in the line of duty in the 1920s.

In addition to her parents, Barb was preceded in death by her in-laws, Robert J. and Charlotte A. Donovan (Nachazel); son, Sean Donovan and sister-in-law, Patricia Donovan (Misavage).

Left to cherish her memory are her loving husband, Michael; daughters, Kimberly (Shaun) Conklin and Kelly (Michael) Barton; grandchildren, Bailey, Benjamin, Madelynne, Emily, Claire, Bree, and Sean; sisters Shelly (Tim) Cassidy, Antoinette (Darrell) Mock, Ann (Brett) Benson; brother-in-law, Robert Donovan Jr., and sisters-in-law, Margaret (Mike) Wilhelm and Patricia (Daren) Dabrowski and more than a dozen cherished nieces and nephews.

To know Barb was to love her and she was blessed with many great friend throughout her lifetime, she will be especially missed by Darlene Calgie, Debbie Krause, Pam Spiegel and the very special girls from Euchre club.

The family will receive guests Friday, February 18, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions – SW Chapel, 4752 Heatherdowns Blvd. (419-381-1900). Funeral Mass will begin Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 1842 Airport Highway, Toledo, OH 43609.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Barbara’s memory.

To leave a special message for Barbara’s family, please visit:

www.NewcomerToledo.com