Donna M. (Yardley) Lemon
Donna M. (Yardley) Lemon, 94, was born at home in Elkader, on Dec. 6, 1929, the youngest of four children in the Susan and Aloysius Losch family. At the age of 11, she moved to California with her mother to join other family members. She graduated from Mercy High School in Burlingame in 1947 and began work as a bookkeeper for several family businesses. During those early years, she spent a lot of time doting on her young niece and nephews.
She had daughters, Mary and Anne, with her first love and husband Harry J. Yardley, Jr. Widowed at the young age of 44, she started working at her daughter's elementary school as a teacher’s aide. She was well known at the school for volunteering as a room parent, doing yard duty, organizing arts and crafts activities and being an active PTA member. She continued working for the Redwood City School District until her retirement and made many lifelong friends.
She married her next-door neighbor, Stephen W. Lemon, and started the adventure of raising a combined family of four teenage girls. They enjoyed a good life together. Steve shared, “If it was not for Donna, I would not be the man I am today.”
Donna’s retirement came at the perfect time, as she was about to become a grandma again. Mary had twin sons, Kyle and Kevin, and being their grandma was the light of her life. She was able to help Mary care for them daily the first year and had “Grandma Day” at least once a week for many years. Kyle and Kevin feel very lucky to have had their amazing grandma for 30 years.
She also loved spending time and laughing with her beloved sisters, Mary Houlihan and Jean Yardley. If they weren’t spending quality time together, they would talk and email each other daily. She missed them both very much since they’ve been gone.
On Donna’s 90th birthday in 2019, she was delighted to stand by her daughter Anne’s side as she married Scott. Donna and Anne have always shared an exceptionally close bond.
Donna is known for her creativity and artwork, including her unique pictures made entirely of eggshells. Her entire life she always had a creative project in the works. If you knew Donna personally, you were undoubtedly a recipient of her beautiful art.
Survived by her husband of 45 years, Stephen W. Lemon; daughters Mary (Yardley) Briot and Anne Yardley (Scott Metelmann); grandsons Kyle Briot and Kevin Briot; granddaughter Erin (Briot) Schutt; and stepdaughters, Charlene Stone and Natalie James and their children.
She was loved by many more family and friends.
