Dona S Schudy

Dona Sue Schudy
December 14, 1932 to January 16, 2025

Celebrating and mourning the loss of our awesome mother, Dona Sue Schudy, who passed away at home on January 16 at the age of 92. Mother of the 9 Vossens, Babu of 21, and Grand Babu of 14+ Great Gandlovies. She maintained her spirit after an initial stroke in Jan 2020 and relented after a second stroke depleted her strength shortly before she passed.

Dona found comfort in her Catholic faith, which assisted in her transition to heaven. She was at peace as she passed, ten minutes after agreeing to be guardian angel to her upcoming 15th Great-Grandlovie. Dona is survived by her nine children: Mark Vossen (Laurie), Matt Vossen (Mari), Marysue Bobzien (John), Melanie Mitra (Robin), Bart Vossen (Sharon), Amy Vossen Vukelic (Paul), Michele Vossen (Dawn Bowden), Suzanne Kasten (David), and Teresa Vossen (Gary Bucci), sister-in-law Marilyn Schudy, and sister-in-law Pat Schudy.

Dona was brave, smart, determined, and modeled adaptability, resilience and resourcefulness throughout her life. She was gracious, kind, and appreciative each day, saying thank you and looking out for others. She never complained through the medical struggles, instead problem solving each minute to be as independent as possible. She thoughtfully and lovingly planned ahead years ago: purchased a long-term care policy to support any care she might need; and, discussed with us and legally documented her healthcare & end of life wishes. She was a remarkable woman.

Dona was the calm in the storm and a kind caregiver and mother; rarely one to judge (unless the brownies were undercooked or you wore your baseball cap at the table). Risking shunning from her Catholic community, she divorced in the early 1970’s for the safety of herself and the benefit of her children. With the support of a feminist community, she reclaimed her autonomy and embraced her entrepreneurial spirit, running a gift shop and the neighborhood candy store, before joining the family wine distribution business. She also worked at Norwood Hills Country Club and the Webster Groves Day Care Center.

Mom was a generous, fun mother. Friends were always welcome at our house, the car was crowded with friends she chaperoned to Six Flags, apple picking, and other adventures. She gave straight answers to any question (“Mom why do people keep saying, “‘Oh, you must be Catholic!’ when they find out there’s another Vossen and several more behind me?” The birds and the bees talk came after the explanation of Catholic birth control doctrine). She was not one to yell, rather modeled positive behaviors and used teachable moments to help us to learn and to grow as good humans. She was a mom and a friend, held confidences, could take a joke, and did not take herself too seriously. A woman of few words, those she did use were heartfelt, efficient, meaningful, grammatically correct and lacked gossip, negativity, and curse words.

Dona was ahead of her time in many ways. She celebrated the first Earth Day and continued to take good care of the Earth throughout her life (cloth napkins and recycling!), made homemade granola and energy cookies before anyone had heard of granola, had a dog-eared copy of Eat Right to Keep Fit with Adelle Davis, and worked out along with Jack LaLanne long before working out was in style. She caused a stir in the 1950’s when she danced with both the black and white players during the football banquet in the first season the team was integrated at Beaumont High School (her husband, Ralph Vossen was a coach). At a grade school/parish reunion, one of the men we grew up with volunteered that the boys considered Mom a “hottie” (he used a different acronym).

Dona loved the outdoors, sailing, reading, crossword puzzles, listening to NPR, music, was a dancing disco queen, tennis ace, an accomplished seamstress, gardener, and a bridge and gin rummy card whiz, with a very competitive spirit. She was generous with her time and talents and volunteered weekly throughout her life, visiting nursing homes, volunteering at the local church, Our Lady’s Inn, Meals on Wheels, Highland (Littleton, CO) Elementary School library, and more. She was a lover of chicken salad, chocolate pies, Turtles, oatmeal-raisin cookies, and wine.

She felt most at peace in the Rocky Mountains, where she moved in 1995 after living in St. Louis as an adult. She spent her final 1.5 years in Buffalo, NY, under the care and love of Amy and Paul Vossen Vukelic.

Dona grew up in Kansas City and her mother Georgia Schudy (née Crelly) departed this life when Dona was 6 years old. Her father, Frank Schudy, passed away in 1963. She was the final remaining sibling, and looked forward to reuniting with her brothers Frank and Robin Schudy, and her sister, Suzanne Schudy Mooney. Dona married Ralph Vossen in 1953 after they met at Central Missouri State University. She was a loving sister-in-law and aunt to many, a good friend, and a generous mentor. As one of her children’s childhood friends put it, “Your Mom was not warm and fuzzy, but she was welcoming, non-judgmental, and cool. I loved coming to your house because she always made me feel good when I was around her.”

Thank you to Amy and Paul for opening up your home to mom and providing her with respect, choices and loving care. Thank you to the wonderful care team including Jolinda in Colorado and the Buffalo team Amy championed, especially Bryanna, owner of Safe at Your Place, and her aides who were with her from Day One: Kelly, Jill, Jan, Serah, and Michelle; the Independent Health Care for You Team who visited the house monthly; and finally the team from Hospice and Palliative Care of Buffalo.

We will miss receiving Mom’s thoughtful paper clippings with a quick note and xoxo signature. Without her, there will forever be a void in our hearts, and she will never be forgotten.
Mom, we love you!

Dona’s life will be celebrated in St. Louis (March 22 at Fontbonne University Doerr Chapel, Ryan Hall, from 1:30 pm (Visitation/Service 3:30) pm to 5:00 pm and Denver, Colorado (May 3, 2025 from 1:30 pm to 5:00 pm at a location to be announced. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Parents as Teachers (parentsasteachers.org), a program in Missouri that is dedicated to early childhood development and one Dona supported. If you would prefer to donate via check rather than digitally, you may mail it to Parents as Teachers, 6 Cityplace Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141.