Donna Markarian

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Donna Markarian, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, who departed this life on Friday, January 16, 2026, at the age of 77. Born on March 1, 1948, in Chicago, Illinois.

Donna led a fulfilling life, marked by a passion for literature, travel, and family. She dedicated 35 years to the Poplar Creek Library, where she planned countless events, classes, and celebrations. She designed and wrote monthly newsletters that informed the city of all library events. Her colleagues and patrons alike will remember her as a dedicated individual who always had a warm smile and an uncanny ability to show kindness to everyone she encountered. Her kindness was contagious.

Donna was an adventurer at heart. She was a world traveler who cherished yearly family vacations, exploring new cultures, and creating lifelong memories with her loved ones. Her journeys took her to many places, including most of the Caribbean, expanding her horizons and sharing her experiences with her family. She was drawn to the ocean. Anywhere near the water was her happy place, including her beloved northern Minnesota cabin. Lake Vermilion was where she could relax and be rejuvenated. She spent countless vacations with her family and friends up north and cherished each one.

As a park district commissioner she planned and executed many innovative projects to improve the city. She was a major contributor to the creation of Park Place community center. She also was a prominent activist for the inclusion of disabled individuals. She fought relentlessly for NWSRA to include the disabled citizens of Streamwood’s community and won! Because of her, all disabled people in Streamwood have access to wonderful opportunities and activities that enrich their lives.

An avid reader and dog lover, Donna found joy in the simple pleasures of life, but her greatest passion was her family. She was a devoted wife to her husband Michael, with whom she shared almost 50 beautiful years of marriage. Together, they built a loving home and raised two wonderful children, Dana (fiancé David Kelley) Saccomonto and Michael Markarian. Donna’s grandsons, Jaxton and Leonidas Saccomonto, were the light of her life, and she cherished every moment spent with them. A nurturing matriarch, her family was truly her everything.

Donna is preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Eleanor Kline, whom she loved dearly. She leaves behind a legacy of love, kindness, and cherished memories that will forever be treasured by her family and all who knew her.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, February 1, 2026 from 11:00 am until time of Memorial Service 1:00 pm at Countryside Funeral Home & Crematory, 1640 S. Greenmeadows Blvd. Streamwood, IL 60107.

Donna Markarian will be deeply missed, but her spirit will live on in the hearts and lives of those she touched. May she rest in peace, reunited with her beloved parents and surrounded by the friends she so loved.