Donna L. Comstock
Donna (Patt) Comstock of Naples, Nantucket, and Amherst, NH, passed away peacefully on June 29, 2023 in Naples at the age of 89. Donna was born on May 15, 1934, in Highland Park, IL. She was the only child of the late Leon and Edith Patt.
Donna was the beloved wife of the late Donald W. Comstock. She was the loving mother of Cheryl Hardman and her husband David of Chapel Hill, NC, Donald “Bud” Comstock and his partner Jen Rivett of Amherst, NH, Ginny Comstock Tocci and her husband Jay of Naples, FL, and Scott Comstock and his wife Sandy of Amherst, NH. She was the treasured grandmother of Adam Aslan, Jeff Aslan, Katy Watson, Christine Broad, Kimberly Hardman, Meagan Comstock, Matt Comstock, and Will Comstock. She was thrilled to be the great-grandmother of seven adorable kids (with one more on the way). She was a loving aunt to many nieces and a nephew.
Donna spent her early years in Pekin, NY, where she fondly remembered walking to her grandfather’s general store and helping herself to candy and ice cream. Due to her father’s work, the family moved to Niagara Falls, Ontario where she went to school and completed her high school education.
She went to Northwestern University where she majored in theater and hoped to be a star someday. But she met a tall, dark, and handsome man who became her husband of 66 years. Soon, she became the mother of four children.
Donna and Don moved to Lexington, MA where they spent many years, raising their children. In the late ’60s, Donna returned to study at Emerson College and was proud to receive her BA in Dramatic Arts. She went on to perform in many local theater productions and passed her love of theater and the arts on to her children and grandchildren. Donna played the piano well and led everyone in Christmas carols each year. Donna was also a talented artist with many beautiful oils and watercolors hanging in various homes.
In the eighties, Donna and Don moved to Amherst, NH. Donna opened her own store “The Write Place” which had great success for many years. They had a ski house at Loon, where there was always lots of family fun. They enjoyed summer homes on a lake in Hancock, NH, and in Nantucket, MA. Eventually, they built a beautiful house in Nantucket and summered there.
Donna was always the life of the party and was renowned for her epic parties. She had many friends who loved her sense of fun and adventure.
After Don’s retirement, they split most of their time between Naples and Nantucket. They loved to travel and traveled all over the world.
They both loved classical music and were avid supporters of Naples-Artis and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. They were also big supporters of the Nantucket Cottage Hospital, The Conservancy of Southwest Florida and the Humane Society of Naples. They were members at the Naples Sailing and Yacht Club and The Anglers Club in Nantucket.
For the past eight years, Donna has resided at The Arlington of Naples. Her family is grateful for the wonderful care she received there, especially after she transitioned into the Memory Care program. They kept her engaged and active and she remained the life of the party. She loved basking in the Florida sunshine, visits from her family, lunches out and she returned to her love of art and music.
Donna had a great surprise when she got to spend her 89th birthday with all four of her children at her favorite restaurant, the Dock.
She was loved by many and will be missed. There will be a celebration of her life at 4:00pm on July 27th at the Amherst Congregational Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Donna’s name may be made to Artis-Naples,
Attn: Development Dept, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples, FL 34108 or at https://tickets.artisnaples.org/donate/i/66.