Obituary of Donna Jean Bauer

CANISTEO: Donna Jean Bauer, 79, of Colby Creek in Canisteo, passed away Saturday, January 6, 2024, at St. James Hospital in Hornell following a brief illness. Donna was born on July 13, 1944 on an Airforce Base in Kentucky to the late John and Catherine (Johnson) Whipple. She moved to Pomfret Center, CT shortly after with her mother Catherine and father John. She attended grade school at Pomfret Community School, and transferred to Putnam High School in Putnam, Ct, where she graduated in 1962. She and a group of friends moved to California where she worked at the Stanford University Admissions Office. She attended Foothill College in Palo Alto, CA where she earned her Associates degree. While living there she traveled extensively in the West to places like Lake Tahoe, Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park. She loved the natural beauty of the West and it ultimately became her favorite place to be. Eventually she moved back to CT, where she met and married Richard Bauer (who was in the Navy). They lived in Bremerton, WA on a Naval Base for a time, until eventually moving back East. They also lived in CT until their move to Elmira, NY. There she ran an assisted living facility from her home until moving to Canisteo, NY, where she retired. Dona was a loving and caring individual, always seeing the best in people. She had a wonderful sense of humor that she shared with her friends and especially her husband, Rick. The two of them shared a special relationship that was filled with laughter and love. During her last days at the hospital, Rick was there each day holding Donna’s hand and making sure she was cared for. Donna also had a great love for animals, and hated to see them go without. In fact, many stray cats and other critters found their way to Donna’s barn where they would be fed and cared for with love and maybe an old blanket placed in a box to give them a place to sleep. She especially loved their dogs, Tula, Benjamin and her favorite Irish Setter “Charlie”. She was a wonderful lady and special friend to all that knew her and she will be greatly missed. She is survived by her husband of 37 years, Richard Bauer, her brother, John Willis Whipple II, and his wife, Elaine Whipple of Ashford, CT, their son, John, and two daughters, Christine Marinelli and her husband Roger, and Maureen Connolly and her husband Chris, her brother Richard George Whipple and his wife Gail Whipple of South Lake Tahoe, CA and their two sons Christopher and his wife Aubrey, Nathaniel and his wife Megan. She is predeceased by her father, John Willis Whipple, her mother, Catherine Louise Whipple and her sister, Catherine Johnson Whipple. There will be no calling hours or funeral service at this time. Donna will be laid to rest at the convenience of the family in Bath National Cemetery in Bath, NY. Memorial contributions in Donna’s name may be made to the Hornell Area Humane Society, 7649 Industrial Park Rd. Hornell, NY 14843. Arrangements are in care of H.P. Smith & Son, Inc. Funeral Home in Canisteo, NY.