Donna Derdiarian, 62, passed peacefully on Sunday, June 11, 2017 at her home surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with cancer. She was the beloved wife of Stephen (Steve) Derdiarian.
Born in Boston on January 22, 1955, she was the daughter of the late Theodore and Alice (Rockwell) Bridges.
Donna grew up in Needham, graduated from Needham High School and earned an associate’s degree from Mount Ida College. She was a resident of Franklin since 1994.
Donna and Steve had that rarest of relationships, falling in love soon after meeting and with their devotion to each other remaining constant in their 18 years together. Their years were filled with shared love and laughter, relishing life and the beauty of the moment. Each blossomed through each other’s presence.
Donna had a special gift for making their house a home, personalizing each room with artful touches, many evoking nature. The quote “Real love stories never end” graces the wall of their kitchen, capturing their feelings for each other. A theme of seashells and the Caribbean shore sets the tone for their bedroom, a reminder of their honeymoon and other happy times spent combing the beaches together on St John.
Donna’s quiet, easy manner always put people at ease and fostered strong ties with her growing family. Her greatest loves in life were her family but most importantly her grandchildren, being positively radiant whenever with them.
Donna worked at various jobs through her life, including at St. Paul Insurance for many years. A passionate dog lover, Donna especially relished working as a dog walker for the past 5 years as a prelude to retirement. She enjoyed cooking, decorating, nature and travel, especially annual visits to mid-coast Maine and Martha’s Vineyard. But what she enjoyed the most was simple quiet time together with Steve in the company of her family.
Donna was also a long-standing member of the First Universalist Society in Franklin, whose progressive belief system she strongly embraced.
Besides her husband, she is survived by; her daughter Kristina (Morrissey) Murphy, her husband Justin and their children Avery and Lily of Bellingham; her son Steven Morrissey of Portsmouth, New Hampshire; and two step-sons, Charlie Derdiarian, his wife Ann Marie Noonan and their daughter Charlotte of Jamaica Plain and Brian Derdiarian, his wife Teresa and their son Westley of Concord, California. Donna was also expecting two additional beloved grandchildren, one in June and the second in August.
She is also survived by; two brothers, David Bridges, his wife Ellen and their children Erika and Billy of Holliston and Dwight Bridges of Cape Cod; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Kachas and Catheryne Derdiarian of Waterford, Connecticut; her sister-in-law Janet Krueger, husband Merle and their son Evan of Lincoln, Rhode Island; and many other extended family and dear friends.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service to celebrate Donna’s life on Saturday, July 29 at the First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers expressions of sympathy may be made in Donna’s memory to the Oliva Fund for Cancer Care c/o Milford Regional Healthcare Foundation, 14 Prospect St., Milford, MA 01757; please include a note that your donation is in remembrance of Donna Derdiarian. (foundation.milfordregional.org/oliva).
Funeral arrangements are under the care of the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin, 131 Main St. (www.ginleyfuneralhomes.com).