Donna Mary (Alig) Herberger

Wellsville, NY - Donna Mary (Alig) Herberger, 71, of 4781 Niles Hill Road passed away on Thursday, March 31, 2016 at the Hart Comfort House in Wellsville. She was born May 6, 1944 in Canton, IL, the daughter of Benno Lynn and Mary Lucinda (Humes) Alig. On August 20, 1966 in Canton, IL she married Niles John Herberger who survives.

 Donna and Niles started their family in Maryland and moved to Wellsville in 1973. She began volunteering at the Immaculate Conception School when her children were attending and continued to volunteer for the school for 35 years. She was a charter member of the   Immaculate Conception Parish Fun Fair Committee and played a vital role in the success of the fair from the beginning. She also served as the parish secretary for 20 years.

Donna was among one of the greatest gifts God has ever bestowed on this planet. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, twin daughter, sister, daughter-in-law, loyal friend, compassionate stranger and amazing chef. Her world revolved around those who came into contact with her.

Donna lived her life with a strong Catholic faith, passion and inspired others to be kind and generous. Her positive outlook and upbeat personality kept those close to her feeling happy and dearly loved and made strangers into new friends. Her best buddy was known to have said, she was the friendliest and most generous woman she had ever known.

Among the many things she loved to do, cooking good food for people was her most favorite activity. She was famously known, among all friends and community circles, for her cinnamon rolls and apple pie. She loved campfires with her family and friends and found great joy in assisting Niles with the gardens and all their bounty. Many in the community benefited from the fruits of their labors, as they shared the overflow with any and all who needed fresh, organic grown vegetables. Donna provided those she knew with the kind of love that comes from homemade, from scratch, cooking.

She loved to go fishing with her husband, over their almost 50 years of marriage.  She taught her grandchildren to fish and how to take a nap on a boat. She tirelessly and fiercely supported her four children in sports and school activities thru their high school and college years. She loved red roses, Maryland & Pacific Northwest Crab, puzzles, holiday decorating and reading day old newspapers, and a little coffee with her cream and sugar. Her unwavering faith and enduring love for her God was paramount in her life. Everything was done in the name of God, unselfishly and joyfully. Family. Friends. Faith. The cornerstones of her happy and simply beautiful life.

Surviving in addition to her husband is one son, Warren of Bloomington, IL, three daughters, Donnia of Bradford, PA, Wendy of Springfield, MO, and Vaneesa if Indianapolis, 10 grandchildren, five great grandchildren, one sister, Cora, three brothers, her twin, Don, Jim and Pat, as well as countless nieces & nephews. She was predeceased by three brothers, Lynn, Alan and Michael.

Friends are invited to visit the family on Wednesday, April 6th from 2-4 & 7-9 pm at the J. W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc. in Wellsville. The Rosary will be recited on Wednesday at 4:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, April 7th at 11:00 am in the Immaculate Conception Church in Wellsville. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery. The family suggests memorial donations be made to the Hart Comfort House. To leave online condolences, please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.