Donna de Jong was born in a limousine on Pacific Blvd in San Diego the way to the hospital September 10, 1942. The third of four children born to Hans “Buddy D” and Allene “Bernice” Van Zyll de Jong she never was one for convention. 

Donna was an independent woman years before it was acceptable. After high-school she traveled Europe catching rides on cargo ships sleeping in makeshift beds on various boats along the way. She raced midget cars before briefly marrying James Curtis “Pat” Patterson in 1971.

In 1972 she gave birth to her only child Sean Michael Van Zyll de Jong and she worked and went to school as a single mother to provide for him.

She volunteered with San Diego Mayor Maureen O’Connor in 1988 after the mayor toured the homeless population of Balboa park undercover by collecting shoes for the homeless. 

She spent fifteen years working as an under appreciated Controller for a mechanical company before retiring in 2009.

After some time living with her son she moved back to California in 2011 where she passed away. Her willingness to buck the establishment and do things her way will be missed. 

She is survived by her son Sean (Liv), her brother Rob (Nancy), her sister Jean, her cousin Judy, nieces and nephews Dennis, Becky, Bobby, Brandi, Julie, and Donna, grand niece Bria, and friends that were like sisters, Joanne, Alice and Nancy. She is also going to be missed by her neighbors especially Barry and Jason. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Velma, and aunts Barbara, and Leola, sister in law Aundree and “Mom” Doris.