Donna Christine Singleton passed away peacefully at the age of 80 on February 18, 2025, in Ottawa, ON. She was born on February 2, 1945 in Sioux Falls, SD, to the late Donald and Elizabeth (née Goettsch) Torguson. Donna is predeceased by siblings Bruce Torguson and Terry Klinger. She is survived by her husband Donald Singleton, sons Taran (Arturo) and Daniel (Karin) and grandchildren Braeden, Claire, and Ewan, brothers Eric (Sandra) and Brian Torguson, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Donna and Don were married in 1966 in Davis, CA. Their pursuit of education and career opportunities led them to Evanston, IL and then to Boulder, CO before settling in Ottawa.
Donna attended UC Davis and later studied at Algonquin College. She worked as a nurse at Queensway Carleton Hospital, and she retired as a Nursing Informatics specialist at the Royal Ottawa Hospital in 2005. Beyond her professional achievements, Donna was a woman of many interests. She practiced yoga and spent many years as a yoga instructor. An avid reader, she was an active member in her book club. Donna enjoyed memoir writing classes and her stories were inspired by her childhood adventures in Aberdeen, SD and Davis, CA. She loved cooking, painting, birding, playing the mandolin and tending her gardens including the rock garden with her gnome collection. Nana Donna especially cherished the summers at the cottage spent with her grandkids.
A celebration of her life will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday June 6, 2025 at the Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Avenue, in Ottawa. For those who wish to see or download the recording of the service, please register here: https://my.forever.link/register/beechwood/donna-singleton
Digital Guestbook
Risto Pirjola
Nancy Flynn
My deepest sympathy to Donna's family. I was a nursing colleague of Donna's for many years at the Queensway Carleton and enjoyed renting her sister's cottage near her own lovely one on Adams Lake. Donna will be remembered as a kind, caring and professional nurse. RIP.
Patience Milam
I met Donna in 1976, at an Ottawa yoga class. We had many fun visits together in both Ottawa and the US. I am very grateful that I had a more recent visit with Don and Donna at their cottage, spending the day chatting up a storm! Forever in my memories and heart. I am having a back surgery, and so cannot attend the funeral.
Doug and Raymonde Kearney
We will remember Donna as a great backyard neighbour for nearly 40 years now.
Heather Mallett
We miss you in our writing group, Donna. Condolences to your family.
Alwyn Moyer
You will be missed Donna
Kelly Guerrero
Donna will forever be loved and missed. So many wonderful memories of visits to Tahoe, summer days in Davis, and the Lake in Canada. The service today was really nice and I’m so glad to have been able to see the livestream. Donna would have loved everything about it.
I, together with my family members, feel very sad that Donna has passed away. We want to express our deepest condolences.
I have known Donna and Don for almost thirty years. Numerous are the times when I have been watching hockey with Donna and Don or enjoying an excellent dinner at their house in Orleans, Ottawa. A special highlight in many summers for my family and myself has been a visit to Donna and Don's cottage.
We much regret that, due to a travel, we are unable to attend Donna's memorial service but we will never forget Donna's smiling and happy face.