Donna G. Belding Merritt

Donna Giles Belding Merritt, 87, of Bartlett. Beloved wife of the late Hartley Belding and James Merritt; loving daughter of the late Maurice and Temperance (nee Tucker) Giles; cherished sister of the late Deborah (Milton) Davis and Barbara (Peter) Tappan; caring stepmom of Judy Baker, Dan Belding and Nancy Petrzilka; dear aunt of Mark Davis, Giles Davis, Barbara VonLanken and the late Steve Tappan and Dawn Davis and kind and close friend of Mike Barrutia, Jon Lewis and Karen Rosso. A special education teacher with a masters from Northern, she completed all work save dissertation for her PhD. Lifetime Mensa member. She loved animals and was known for breeding and showing champion Himalayan cats. As a docent at the Brownsville Zoo, she was especially attached to Siberian tiger cubs Boris and Natasha. With an undergrad from Northwestern in music, she was a multi-instrument musician. She sang with the Silver Sisters, and was a certified pilot. Memorial visitation 2:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. Saturday, October 6, 2018 at the Countryside Funeral Home and Crematory, 950 South Bartlett Rd (at Stearns Rd), Bartlett. Memorial visitation will continue Sunday 12:30p.m. until time of memorial service 1:00p.m. at Immanuel United Church of Christ, 415 W North Ave, Bartlett. Inurnment Bartlett Cemetery. Cremation was private at the Countryside Crematory. In lieu of flowers memorials to American Humane Society, www.americanhumane.org, would be appreciated.