Donna Ackroyd

Donna M. Ackroyd, 65, of Pottstown, PA passed away on September 17, 2019.

Born in Philadelphia, PA in 1954, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Anne (nee McLaughlin) Tramo.

Donna was the loving mother of Kaitlyn and Meghan Ackroyd; dear sister of Deb DiRienzi, Brian Tramo, and the late Joseph Tramo; caring aunt of Gina Mulfinger, Lisa DiRienzi, Joanna DiRienzi, Jared Carey, Jessie Clifford, Ryane Galaton, and Jaime Beadle.

Donna was a strong, loving mother, sister, aunt, and friend who was always there as a shoulder to lean on, to crack a joke, and make you smile. Her strength was never in question, despite having a disease that tried to take everything from her.  Never complaining, she fought her hardest. She always met you with a smile and wanted to hear how you were doing, putting the needs of others before her own.

She was passionate about Christmas, beginning dinner plans in August. Covering the house from head to toe in decorations, especially her renowned collection of snowman, was her favorite part of the year. Donna always took care to make sure there was a theme and recipes tested and ready to go.  Our trees would be bare without her annual Thanksgiving ornament bonanza. Each year, our bag would get heavier and heavier to the point we needed to add extra trees around the house so we could display them all.

Donna was the best cook and always took care in making sure everyone was well fed. She made a mean chicken marsala, spaghetti and meatballs, and her specialty, a huge variety of Christmas cookies, including the world’s best chocolate chip cookies, cookie press, and chocolate covered pretzels.

Reading was also one of Donna’s favorite daily activities, always carrying a book in her purse and pulling it out to read whenever she had a chance. Her favorites included Nora Roberts, JD Robb, and any murder mystery. She loved playing Skipbo and Boggle with her daughters. She loved sitting on the beach, under the umbrella, making sure her hair never got wet, reading her book, watching her daughters swim and play.

You couldn’t ask for a better mother, sister, aunt, and friend. Donna will be missed more than she could know, but will stay alive through our memories, our recipes, and our traditions.

Relatives and friends are invited to her Visitation from 7 to 9 PM on Monday, September 23, 2019 at The Donohue Funeral Home, 1627 West Chester Pike, West Chester, PA 19382, 610-431-9000.  There will be another visitation from 9:30-10:30 AM on Tuesday September 24 at SS Peter & Paul Church, 1325 Boot Road, West Chester, PA 19380, followed by her Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM. Interment private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741, would be appreciated.