Donna Jean Ord

August 1, 1943 - June 12, 2022

Donna Jean Ord, née Hughes, died on Sunday, June 12, 2022, in Cary, North Carolina. She was 78 years old and was preceded in death by her parents James Hughes and Maria A. Mason, stepfather Joe Mason (aka Big Daddy), grandson Michael Wheatley, as well as her husband Robinson Ord, Jr. She is survived by her daughter Carolyn Saenz and three granddaughters, Sarah, Melissa and Deanna, her brother Robert Hughes (Nina), stepbrother Jim Mason, stepdaughter Marjorie Wheatley, stepson Robinson R. Ord (Julie), grandchildren Lauren Ord and Jeffrey Ord, nieces Stephanie Alford and Peep Matheson along with great nieces Ellie and Edie and great nephew Bowie, and long-time dear friend, Donna Ohlson. Donna was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA and attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Upon graduation, she taught senior English in the Murrysville Franklin High School for several years, before becoming a flight attendant with United Airlines, where she met her husband, Rob. Rob and Donna lived in Chicago IL, Cleveland OH, Oakland NJ, and Tulsa OK, before finally settling in Houston TX, where Donna taught English as a Second Language classes for adults. They remained in Texas 34 years, until they lost their home to Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Donna and Rob lived with daughter Carolyn in Austin briefly before relocating to North Carolina for health reasons. Rob passed away in 2020. Donna loved her family tremendously and had a heart of gold. She loved the holidays and hosted many festive family get-togethers. She had a great sense of humor and enjoyed shopping, movies, playing games, reading, puzzles and jazz. She loved sports, especially the Pittsburgh Steelers, and was a very devoted fan. An adventurer at heart, Donna traveled to Okavango Delta, Botswana on safari with her husband Rob to see the animals up close. She also cruised the Caribbean with her daughter Carolyn. Donna’s adventures included taking scenic helicopter rides, touring Pittsburgh on the back of her brother Bob’s Harley, and swimming with dolphins in Mexico. She celebrated her 75th birthday zip-lining in Texas with Carolyn and family. Donna was a fighter and fought her medical issues valiantly for many years. She had a strong desire to donate her body for educational purposes and was accepted into the Duke University Anatomical Gifts Program, associated with the Duke School of Medicine. Duke University will hold a memorial service to honor Donna and other participants at the end of the next academic year.