Donna Lee Corrigan Wilcox

Born on May 8th,1938, in Rochester, NY to parents Ruth and Joseph Corrigan. She was the fourth of five daughters: Shirley, Joan, Pat and Sharon, being the baby.

They all lived at 666 Bennington Dr. in Rochester…their Grandmother lived there also for a time. Donna was lucky to have visited her family home many times over the past few years. Donna was also lucky to have visited her Grandmother’s cottage down on Edgemere Dr. where she spent many summers.

Donna attended Charlotte HS on Lake Ave. in Rochester, graduating in 1956. Donna was the friendly type, staying in contact with high school friends Joyce Swanson and Gail Chambers up until recently.

Donna worked at Highland Hospital as the secretary to the head dietician.

Donna and William (Bill) Wilcox were married in October 1958. Donna moved to Virginia in December 1958 where Bill was stationed in the US Marine Corps. Donna returned to Rochester shortly after the birth of Karen in the spring of 1959. Bill returned to Rochester in July 1959. The couple resided at the Corrigan house for a short time, then moved into an apartment on Linden Ave.

Donna and Bill had three girls: Karen, Nancy and Judy.

Nancy came along in 1961, and Judy was born in 1966, creating the need for the five of them to move to Colonial Drive in Webster, two months after Judy was born, where Bill and Donna still resided at the time of Donna’s passing.

Colonial Drive turned out to be just perfect! The neighbors were welcoming, becoming an extended family! The TREE people welcomed the five of the Wilcoxes.

The TREE was the center of the neighborhood where the neighbors, friends, and family gathered. Several houses have family members that are still friends TODAY! One house had two daughters, who Bill ended up later on being the father of the bride for each of them. Donna made both of their wedding gowns, as well as the bridesmaids dresses.

Donna loved to sew! She was a seamstress who taught sewing lessons as well as pattern making at the night school program at Schroeder HS in Webster. Donna made prom dresses, bridesmaid dresses and wedding gowns for a few other girls in the neighborhood, as well as for her several nieces! In the beginning of their marriage, Donna made Bill shirts to match Karen’s and her own dresses.

The Corrigan sisters and cousins were always a close bunch. The sisters were close and to this day the Cousins are very close. Outings in the summer when the kids were small were the norm. This extended to the sisters and cousins playing volleyball, softball and bowling together. A crafty family for sure, there was always a craft night near the holidays. Large Christmas parties were held at the sisters' houses until the family had grown so large a park lodge was needed.

Donna, her sisters, nieces and nephews loved to travel…and boy did they. Bowling tournaments, Drum Corps competitions, ski trips, vacations all over the US and even to Europe. Genealogy was important to Donna and two of her sisters. Trips to Michigan were made a few times, as well as a visit to the Ojibwa Indian Community in Canada because the sisters’ Grandmother always told stories of growing up on an Indian Reservation. A month-long trip to Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man, which included overnight stays in two haunted castles…proved to be fruitful…actual family was found in Monaghan County in Ireland…LOL in a pub! In York, England, family was found as well…in The Shambles. Donna was beyond thrilled to have those connections.

Another almost month-long trip to Alaska was taken by Joan and Donna…both sisters said this was the trip of their lives! Bubble top trains, a cruise ship, dog sleds, five seater passenger planes, even seaplanes! Both Joan and Donna had a great friend in Annie Drollette…Annie was along for this trip as well as to Europe! Oh the fun times that always happened.

Speaking of Annie…back before cell phones and GPS, Donna and Annie set off for a 3 month trip in Annie’s car…everyone thought they would never be seen again. They traveled down the East coast of the US, across the bottom, up the west coast then into Canada, across Canada then finally back to Webster! All of that time they were gone and only fourteen nights were spent in a hotel! The adventures from that trip were talked about for many years, even until recently.

The two musketeers did it again the next summer…up the north east coast of the US, through the Maritimes, onto the ferry into Newfoundland to see Lizzie and George! Who does not have a good time in Newfoundland?! Annie and Donna found each other at the bowling alley over 60 years ago, the rest is history, fun and family!! Need it be mentioned that Annie and Donna played softball together as well…many trips with the family included Annie!

Donna and Bill traveled to Williamsburg VA with Susan & TJ Burns. Genesee Country Museum was also a favorite destination for this foursome.

Donna and Bill became antique dealer partners with Cliff and Peg Larson, often refurbishing other people’s items found on the curb, then reselling them at local antique shows or in the basement of Donna and Bill’s house.

Right before Donna and Bill moved from Rochester, they drove to NYC in their truck and trailer filled with antiques that were left over from their business, and sold them at Sotheby's Auction House.

Bill and Donna moved to Hawaii in 1984 for six months. Some of the Wilcox relatives lived there, and the two were shown everything there was to be seen on the Islands.

Donna and Bill then left for California, landing 1st in LA…then moving to Long Beach right along the Ocean. Donna worked at Knott’s Berry farm, where she made the costumes for the Peanuts characters, plus designed and sewed the costumes for the stage show people and the creatures inside of the rides. Donna also helped to design and sew the costumes for the Knott’s Scary

Farm Halloween month long event. She partied with Rick Baker and Elvira.

Having become friends with Charles and his daughter Jill Shultz, Donna designed and made costumes for the Olympic ice skaters at Lake Placid for Smuckers Stars on Ice. She had become friends with Scotty Hamilton, Sasho Cohen, Katerina Vitt, as well as Tai and Randy who had been to her house in Long Beach. Donna and the other Snoopy mother at Knott’s, Carol Ronzoni were asked to make and dress the Peanuts characters for the Macy’s Day parade in 1987!

Donna and Bill traveled all over the west, many times with friends and family from back in NY. Mexico was on the docket, as well as many National Parks! They even took the train to San Francisco once, passing the Circus Train. In Yellowstone, they were chased by a moose! Donna helped to put out the big fires of 1988 with Bill’s car water, which was needed to get up the big hills back then.

Donna worked on building two Rose Bowl Parade floats, also attending the actual parade.

Donna and Bill moved back to NY in the summer/ fall of 1993 when the grandchildren began to come…Jacob then Kristy!

Donna worked at GEVA Theater upon her return to Rochester where she helped to design and sew costumes for “A Christmas Carol" and other plays and musicals.

Donna took Jacob and Kristy for a few years on adventures many, many Fridays! Donna had tons of pictures from these field trips all over NY, even including Toronto.

Along came John III in 1999, Nicholas in 2006, and great grandson Cameron in 2023.

Many summers were spent at Sylvan Beach on Oneida Lake where the Wilcox grandparents began vacationing when Bill was small. This continued until Johnnie was a few years old. Camping in the Adirondacks was another favorite from the early 1960s.

Donna was a wonderful quilter, belonging to the Genesee Valley Quilt Guild, as well as involving Karen, Nancy & Chris in this art.

A happy activity was arts and crafts with the daughters, nieces, sisters and neighbors. Many nights were spent in Donna’s basement laughing and creating!

Donna and Bill traveled to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina for the birthday of the US Marine Corps with Rose and Art, Bill’s uncle. The foursome also traveled all around the US for the 2nd Marine Division Association reunions…Houston, Buffalo, Boston, Las Vegas plus many others. In 2007, Jacob and Kristy went to Washington DC with them, and Johnnie went with them to Camp Lejeune a few years later.

Donna worked at Hidden Treasures, a household sale company for almost twenty years. She found many treasures as well as good friends June and Jill, plus many others.

Donna was a gardener outside at her home, including many indoor plants as well.

Donna was a big Yankee fan, having gone to many of the games in person as well as watching faithfully on TV.

Donna loved Jeopardy when Alex was alive, having started to watch the show daily when Art Fleming hosted.

Donna was a member of the sorority Beta Sigma Phi, along with her sisters-in-law Susan and Barbara.

Donna was a big card player: Pinochle with her sister Joan and her brother-in-law Chuck, Euchre with Annie and crew, Canasta with Susan and Barbara.

Donna died Sunday, May 4, 2025 at the age of 86. Predeceased by her daughter Nancy Wilcox Ellison; parents, Joseph and Ruth Corrigan; sisters, Shirley Ross, Joan Mambretti and Patricia Murdock.  She leaves her husband of 67 years, William; children, Karen (Chris Santucci) Wilcox and Judy (John) Sargent; grandchildren, Jacob (Tracey) Forster, John III and Nicholas Sargent, Kristy Lieberman (Russell) Rawson;  great-grandson, Cameron Rawson; sister, Sharon (Ben) Wilt; sisters-in-laws, Barbara Wilson and Susan Burns; several nieces and nephews; best friend, Annie Drollette.

Friends may call 11:00 AM-1:00 PM Saturday, May 17 at Willard H. Scott Funeral Home, 12 South Ave., Webster, where her Memorial Service will follow at 1:00 PM. Interment, Webster Union Cemetery.