Donna Morgan

Donna Jo Tonazzi Morgan, 74, surrounded by her children, holding hands, praying, laughing, crying, and making inappropriate jokes, passed peacefully away at her home in Hickory, NC on September 4, 2024. She was born January 13, 1950, in Utica, NY to Renato “Nato” Tonazzi and Josephine “Josie”( Bovi) Tonazzi, both first-generation Americans born from proud Italian immigrants. Growing up, Donna appreciated her big, loud, wild, Italian family and particularly enjoyed Sundays at both sets of her grandparents.

She graduated from New York Mills High School, a year early in 1967, as “they made her skip 2nd grade because she would finish all of her work before everyone else, and then would bother the other students.” Donna attended SUNY Morrisville College for Business Administration where she met and married Steve Morgan (they divorced in 1992.) Later in life, Donna graduated with an Architectural Drafting degree from CVCC.

Donna and her young family moved to Hickory in July 1978. She raised her family, worked at Hickory Springs, 2 Exxon gas stations, and CBSA Architects. She loved working for Abee Architecture, PA where she helped to design several buildings in Hickory. Later Donna taught water aerobics at Lenior Rhyne College, and several of her “ladies” or “Swimmin’ Women Lunch Bunch” stayed connected over the years. Donna LOVED her job working for the City of Hickory, where she met friends who became family. Donna enjoyed attending HIS Image Ministries Church where she served on the prayer team, Children's Ministry, traveled to the Charlotte location, and served in the prison ministry.

Donna loved and was very proud of her four children. Kelley Renata Christian (David) of Dallas, NC; Heather Jo Hobbs (Brandon) of Indian Land, SC; Stephanie Lynne Moss (Jeremy) of Dallas, NC; and Cory Dana Morgan (Cat.) of Palo Alto, CA. Although her children live out of town, she knew all of their schedules and would keep up with what her kids were doing. Donna (Granny) loved her grandchildren and used to say that she ”wished that she could have had them first:” Kade, Ezekiel, Ethan, Ezra, Kobe, Grayson, Gabriel, Josie, Zachary, Caleb, and Caroline. Granny always made an effort to get together with her family. She also liked to go out to eat, swim at the Y, Kool Park, and the beach, feed the ducks, do anything fun, and always, coffee. She really liked coffee. All who loved her grew to appreciate and enjoy her direct, colorful ways and spicy unsolicited advice. In addition to the aforementioned, she is survived by her brothers Raymond (Sherry) of Bluffton, SC, and Kyle (Dan) of Pacifica, CA. Nieces and nephews, several cousins, and her long-time girlfriends. She is preceded in death by her parents Renato and Josephine Tonazzi of New Hartford, NY, and her sister-in-law Sherry Tonazzi of Bluffton, SC.

Mom did not want a funeral, but we are getting together to celebrate her life from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM on Sunday, October 13, 2024, at The Moss House, 112 Wood Chuck Dr., Dallas, NC 28034.

Please sign the online guestbook at www.caringcremations.net. The Morgan family has entrusted arrangements to Caring Cremations Life Celebrations and Funerals at 828-855-3350.