Donna M. (Cope) Roehling

Donna (nee Cope) Roehling passed away on April 6, 2026. She was born on March 28, 1944, to the late Bernard E. and Viola (nee Draper) Cope.

Donna was born with a congenital hip, which meant she spent her toddler years in a body cast then in split brace. She was a daddy’s girl and spent a lot of her time with her dad, fishing, on a backhoe, bulldozer and playing in the gravel pit. When she was old enough, she went deer hunting with her dad in the Adirondack’s, Tupper Lake, NY. She took tap and ballet lessons. She was a member of Akron United Methodist Church and was baptized in June 1944, with 13 years of perfect attendance. Donna graduated from Akron Central High School in June of 1962. She was married to her husband James E. Roehling on October 6, 1962. Donna was the co-owner of Roehling Excavating with her husband Jim. She worked many different jobs, such as Perry’s Ice Cream line work, Barbara Ann’s bridal seamstress & sales, retail manger, customer service, & child care. She enjoyed sewing, knitting and crafts as she was a member of Limerick and a charter member of Limerick Too Home Bureau. Donna did many ceramics that she gifted her kids and grandkids every year. When the kids were young, they did family seasonal camping in Waterport, New York and yearly trips to Little Wolf Camp Ground & Gull Pond at Tupper Lake, New York. Also trips to Florida, to Circus World, Disney, Busch Garden, Weeki Wacshee, and visiting Jim’s brother “Cork’s” family in Pinellas Park, FL. Donna and Jim continued deer hunting, including the kids when they were old enough. Donna and Jim did a cruise to Alaska, and several trips to Arizona. When her husband Jim took sick, she did 24/7 care including doing his dialysis at home for 17 years. Donna enjoyed seeing and giving her 14 grand dogs treats - Macy, Sobe, Beni, Lexi, Moto, Lily, T, Jasmine, Daisy, Bree, Ella Mae, Riley, Moon & Shine.

Surviving are children: James “Chip” (Lisa)Roehling, Tracy Lynn(Brian Williams) Brogowski, Doni (Amy) Roehling, Rusty (Sarah Mowczko), Bryan (Cindy) Shafer. Grandchildren Doni II, Dylan, Hayley and the late Mark T Roehling. Several other nieces/nephews, two sister-in-law’s: Audrey Roehling Calnan (deceased Tom), & Ginger Renner Roehling (deceased Donald).

Deceased is her loving husband of 51 years Jim, their baby James Arthur, her baby sister Merne Ann, & Grandson Mark Thomas Roehling, Sister-in-law Marilyn Roehling (Joe) Andrasek, brother-in-law’s Gene, Clarence “Cork” (Frances), & Arthur Roehling.

A visitation will be held on Monday, April 13th from 3-7PM at Ross Funeral Home of Akron, LLC., 10 Eckerson Ave. Akron, NY 14001, where services will follow at 7PM. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Newstead Fire Co. or the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation. 

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