Smith, Donella (Kubiak)  Born  12/18/47  Died  4/21/25.  
Donella, Age 77, passed away peacefully in Duluth surrounded by loved ones.

Donella was born in Duluth, MN, to Donald and Ella Smith.  If you ever wondered where her name came from, there it is, her father and mother's names put together.  She was a lifelong resident of Duluth.

After graduation from Denfeld High School in 1965, Donella started a career in banking and insisted all her kids knew how to balance a checkbook.  That career trajectory changed when Donella met and married William 'Bill' Kubiak on May 8, 1971.  They had 53 fun-filled years together before Bill's passing on November 7, 2024.  The highlight of those 53 year together were raising their 3 children: Sara, Jim and John.

Donella's career was an adventure in change.  She always loved a new challenge and to learn something new and her working life embodied that.  She ran a daycare out of the home when her kids were young, served as an office manager for Labovitz Enterprises, returned to school at Lake Superior College to become a respiratory therapist, and finished her career as the office administrator at Wheeler Associates. She saved many a child's  life from choking, always made sure we had a Holiday Inn to stay at on trips, embraced technology to become a computer whiz before computers were common, making deep lifelong connections throughout.  She was dedicated and dependable and truly enjoyed every job she had.

Donella was active in church her whole life, including serving as the church secretary for a few years.  She sang and played guitar in the church choir and hosted many gatherings at the family home for members of the congregation.  Many longtime family friends were made and even managed to sprout a few offshoots, such as the 'Happy Campers'.  She was an avid walker, a lover of dogs, puzzles, crocheting/knitting, and shoveling snow.  The whole family are proud owners of winter socks/mittens made by Donella.

Donella is survived by her three children, Sara Potswald, Jim (Anna) and John (Kate); seven grandchildren, Paige (Christopher), Liam, Lydia, Wyatt, Charlie, Luke and Beau; four great grandchildren; and her beloved sister Pam (Rick) Jacobson.

She was proceeded in death by her parents Don and Ella Smith and her loving husband, Bill.

Donella will be especially remembered for her incredible smarts, her warm loving personality and her kind smile and infectious laugh.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May, 24th at 11 a.m. at The Cotton Community Church with a luncheon to follow at the Cotton Town Hall.  Additionally, there will be a joint celebration of life for Bill and Donella Kubiak on Saturday, August 9th from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Dawg House in Canyon, MN.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Old School Lives.

Posted By: Administrator - 04-26-2025
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