Obituary for
Donna Jean Kalish (DeCamp)
Donna Jean Kalish
1948 – 2023
Donna Jean Decamp Kalish, loving wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and friend passed away at her home on Thursday, January 26, 2023 at the age of 75 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Donna was born on January 2, 1948 in Warren, Ohio to parents Eileen (Sullivan) Decamp and Donald Decamp. She graduated in 1966 from Niles McKinley High School in Niles, Ohio. As a teenager she spent many afternoons in her mother’s dance studio where she was classically trained in ballet. She had many fond memories of her time spent after school in the studio. At the age of 20, Donna met her future husband, Tom, at Geneva on the Lake, Ohio. It did not take him long to cleverly propose that two people could pay the bills better than one, and the rest was history. They married soon after and settled in nearby Ashtabula, Ohio where both of their children were born before Tom’s work moved the family to Schererville, Indiana. In 1989 they moved to Kingwood, Texas where they settled down. Donna worked at Administaff in Kingwood before retiring to spend time with her family and travel with her husband. She was able to travel to many fun destinations all over the United States and Europe. She recounted many of these memories fondly over the years.
She was a devoted member of St. Martha’s Catholic Church in Porter and a fiercely faithful Irish-Catholic woman to her core: strong willed, kind and always seeing the best in others. Donna made life so beautiful for her family and all those around her. She was a wine connoisseur who loved to eat, drink and be merry. She never missed watching the Houston Texans and Ohio State Buckeyes on weekends. She danced whenever she had the opportunity and enjoyed it to the fullest. She had a beautiful smile and was full of kindness, charm, and possessed the exceptional ability to have fun wherever she went. Donna Kalish was a valued member of society, but above all else she was a wife, mother, aunt, daughter, sister, grandmother, and great-grandmother that will forever live as a cherished memory.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Eileen (Sullivan) Decamp and Donald Decamp, and her brother, John Decamp. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Thomas Kalish of Porter; her daughter Allyson Kalish of Kingwood; her son Mark Kalish and wife, Amber of Houston; her mother-in-law Carol Kalish of Painesville; her grandson Daniel Green-Kalish of Crockett; her great-grandson Azariah Belz of Tarkington; and her great-granddaughter, Eliana Belz of Tarkington. She also leaves behind numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews whom she loved dearly.
A Funeral Mass will occur at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, the 3 rd of February at St. Martha, Mary and Lazarus Catholic Church, 4301 Woodridge Parkway in Porter, Texas 77365 where Reverend Ralph Roberts will officiate. A reception with the family will immediately follow.
There will be a private interment at Rosewood Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to: American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741, or St. Martha’s Church, Capital Campaign, 4301 Woodridge Parkway, Porter, TX 77365 or the charity of one’s choice.