Donna Keene

Donna Keene passed away peacefully October 21, 2025 at Sedgewood Commons, Yarmouth, ME, after a long illness. Through her long battle with a debilitating disease, she showed great courage and amazing grace. Donna was the daughter of the late Carolyn and Donald Keene of Windham, ME. She attended Windham public schools, graduating in 1966. Her love of poetry and literature led to a B.A. degree in English in 1970. Donna began her career working as a proofreader at the Portland Press Herald. This late-night job seemed to draw a lot of young people with degrees in English. After long hours of reviewing text looking for typing errors, excessive use of commas and other minor mistakes some of these young people felt the need to expand their horizons. During their vacation time Donna and some friends were off to see the world. In this period of her life Donna was ready for adventure and, over the course of several years, visited Columbia, Spain and Peru. Her slides from Machu Picchu, which she shared with family and friends, were spectacular. Later she moved to the Promotion Department where, among other projects, she assisted with the Bruce Roberts Toy Fund and worked on the Homemakers Show. Although enjoying her time working at the Press Herald, Donna wanted to help others and make a difference in the world. The Peace Corp offered the opportunity to do so. Donna’s Peace Corps assignment, which spanned several years, was teaching English to young students in northern Thailand. Adjustments to her new surroundings took some time and she found that becoming a resident of a foreign country is far different from traveling through a country. However, it was not long before Donna embraced her surroundings, acclimating to a different pace of life, making friends and enjoying her new students. Learning to live with less became a freeing experience in many ways. While there, she had the opportunity to meet up with Peace Corps volunteers and to travel to Burma and Nepal. Upon her return to Maine, Donna resumed her career at J. Weston Walch, a publisher of educational material. Donna worked in the catalog department writing short summaries of books for teachers. While there, Donna created a set of classroom posters focusing on authors of the Victorian Age. Of all Donna’s many accomplishments, she will be remembered mostly for her kindness and firm belief that the way we treat others matters and that all people deserve a place at the table. A joyful spirit, Donna was fun, smart and caring and everyone’s favorite aunt. Donna’s friends and family were proud of her many accomplishments, but loved her humility, humanity and generosity. She will be greatly missed. The Keene family would like to thank all the staff at Sedgewood Commons for their kindness and care of Donna over the past seven years. We would also like to thank the added care received from Compassus and for making sure Donna was kept comfortable and the family was kept well informed. Thank you for watching over Donna. Visiting hours will be held Friday November 14th from 1:00 – 3:00PM at the Westbrook Chapel of Dolby, Blais & Segee 35 Church Street, Westbrook. To express condolences please visit Dolby Blais Segee

Donna Keene

October 23, 1948 - October 21, 2025

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