Lakeside resident Donamaria O’Donnell, 65, died Friday, July 4 after surgery following a sudden illness.

Born March 13, 1943 in York, Pennsylvania, O’Donnell graduated from William Penn Senior High School and Penn State University, where she was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.

She began her career at Stawbridge and Clothier in Philadelphia and later operated Valpak franchises in Texas and Oklahoma with her husband, Regis O’Donnell, to whom she was married for 30 years. Most recently, she worked as a realtor in Tulsa, Oklahoma before retiring to Chapala in July 2005.

O’Donnell was an avid sports fan and especially fond of basketball and golf. She liked to knit, crochet, cook, decorate and loved to read mysteries and watch old movies.

Outgoing and friendly, O’Donnell was always busy and much loved in the Lake Chapala area. She served as secretary for the Lakeside Association of Fraccionamientos and chaired the Aesthetics Committee for Chapala Haciendas, where she lived.

O’Donnell is survived by her husband; mother; daughter Amy B. Snyder Christian and her husband Tim Christian of El Paso, Texas; son Conor O’Donnell and his wife Jamilyn of Frisco, Texas; and granddaughter Addison Christian.

O’Donnell loved animals and shared her home with three dogs. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lakeside Animal Shelter.

A memorial service was held on July 9 and another is planned for a later date in Pennsylvania.