Donna Josephine Martin

The world has lost a true artist.

Donna Josephine Martin was born May 16th, 1940, and went to be with God on June 2nd, 2026. She was 86 years old.

Raised in northwest Detroit, she lived out loud from the beginning. Art was in her heart and soul. Donna attended Cass Tech High School, focusing on oil painting. After graduating, she met and married Ronald Berendt in 1963. Her son Ronald “RJ” was born soon after and was her pride and joy.

Donna made many pivots in her professional life. She balanced paying the bills with continuing her artistic pursuits, even doing bookkeeping for small businesses like Mitzelfeld's department store in downtown Rochester.

She studied interior design, wrote columns in her local paper, won awards in photography contests, and painted beautiful works of art. Donna accomplished her goal of completing a college degree, by graduating from Oakland University in 1988 with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Interior Design.

After moving to Florida in the early ‘90s, Donna saw a posting for stained glass lessons. The rest was history. She said many times, “I live and breathe glass.” Upon moving to Asheville, North Carolina, in 2014, she accomplished her goal of having her work featured in the acclaimed Grovewood Village art gallery, and many other galleries in the area.

She created countless works of art, focusing on nature and wildlife. She had a special love for birds. Her windows adorn many homes and businesses and will live on for generations to come. A church window in Caseville is devoted to her loving father, Stanley Martin.

Donna was a voracious reader, a teacher, a writer, and a deep thinker. Her laugh was infectious. She fell asleep many nights with a book resting on her chest.

She moved back to Pigeon, Michigan, after losing her sister, Barbara, and once again reinvented her artist’s life.

Donna eventually met her loving partner, Mark Londy, who was devoted to her until the very end. They shared many good times, travels, and most importantly - laughter together.

Donna is survived by her son, Ronald Jr. (Roxy), her brother, Hal (Jill); nephews, Marty, David (Lucia), Jeff (Samantha), Tim, Max, and Austin (Alison); niece, Susan; sister-in-law, Kathy (preceded in death by her brother Steve); and many great nieces, nephews and her cousin Lois of Canada. Donna is also preceded in death by her older sister, Barbara (Lawrence) and her, mother, Helen. 

In accordance with Donna’s wishes, cremation is to take place. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at Ransford Funeral Home – Pigeon, 7356 West Michigan Avenue, Pigeon, with Pastor Karen Bouverette presiding. Visitation will take place at the funeral home from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service. Donna adored animals and requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Thumb Animal Shelter, 2260 South Elkton Road, Elkton, MI, 48731.

Congratulations, Donna, on a life well lived.