Donna M. Kania, 60, of Columbia, Illinois, born October 27, 1964 in Belleville, Illinois, passed away on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

Donna graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 1987 with a degree in nursing. She loved her career and was employed as a labor and delivery nurse in the BJC network for 30 years, most recently Missouri Baptist Medical Center. Donna was also an active parishioner of Immaculate Conception Parish in Columbia, Illinois and dedicated a lot of time to volunteer work for both the parish and Immaculate Conception School. She enjoyed keeping up with St. Louis sports, especially the Cardinals and the Blues. Donna was very proud of her Polish heritage and enjoyed attending the Casimir Pulaski Day Parade in DuBois, Illinois with her family and friends.
Her favorite activity, however, was being a Busia (Polish for grandma) to her grandchildren Adeline and Alex.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph F. and Eleanor, nee Kurwicki, Kania and two sisters, Connie Sue Kania and Deborah Wondolowski.

Surviving are her daughters, Emilia (Gabriel) Olivo, stationed in Germany and Alicia (William) Florence of Arnold, MO; a sister, Denise (James) Holthaus of Breese, IL; two grandchildren, Adeline and Alexander; and a brother-in-law, Joseph Wondolowski of Fairview Heights, IL. She was not only a cherished daughter and sister, but also a beloved aunt, niece, cousin, and friend to countless people - she welcomed everyone into her life with open arms, turning chance encounters into lasting connections.

Memorials may be made to Immaculate Conception Education and Activity Center.

Friends may visit from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, May 26, 2025 and on Tuesday from 8:30 am to 9:30 am at Braun Family Funeral Home, Columbia, Illinois. A funeral procession will leave at 9:40 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, from the funeral home to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia for a 10:00 a.m. Mass of the Christian Burial, with Monsignor Carl Scherrer officiating. Burial will be in Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Columbia, Illinois