Donna June Vela

Donna June Vela earned her angel wings on January 4, 2018 after a long battle with cancer in Las Vegas, NV at the age of 64.

Donna is survived by her husband of 46 years Gregorio Vela Sr., her beloved children, their spouses and her most favorite people in the world-her grandchildren: Christina & Mike, children-Breanna, Michael & Mia, Gregorio Jr. & Marlene, children Gregorio, Natalia & Javier and Adrian & Erica children Marissa and Adrian Jr.

Donna was born in Glendale, CA to Donald and Betty Whitworth and was an only child. She graduated from John H. Francis Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley, CA in 1971 and shortly there after met the love of her life, Gregorio and they began their life in Glendale and then Sun Valley, CA. In addition to being a wonderful wife and mother, Donna also began her career in human resources and other support services within the moving/relocation industry and met many amazing people she called her friends.

In 2000, Donna and her family moved to Las Vegas, NV where she and Greg built a life of love, friends and personal growth. Donna decided since her kids where grown and successful that she could commit herself to accomplishing a life goal of going to college! Donna accomplished so much more than she originally set out too and received a Bachelors Degree in 2005, a Masters Degree in Human Resources Management in 2007 and became a Doctorate student as she set her sights on becoming Dr. Donna Vela, Ph.D. During all her studies she committed her work life to helping others and this included her teaching at Clark County School District Adult Education Program where she loved inspiring and helping young people accomplish their high school diploma and overcome adversity. Donna also became a professor at University of Phoenix and Baker College as she loved helping students accomplish their goals by sharing her stories, professional expertise, passion and infectious laughter.

In 2014, while she was a Ph.D. student (she had started writing her dissertation) Donna was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer and like everything she did, Donna started researching, asking questions and battling her disease with a fierceness because she had stuff to get done in life and this was not going to be her end. For over 3 years Donna overcame many many challenges against her cancer and taught all of us around her what strength, courage and love look like in action!

Donna was a special human being! She loved her family and friends so very much, loved to cook and host large family dinners, loved to dance, laugh, visit her querido pueblo in Mexico and show off her almost perfect Spanish, she loved to brag about her children and grandchildren and she was a force of nature.

Although her physical presence will be missed by many we are lucky to have known and loved her and we pray that her angel wings are in her most favorite colors of glitter, purple and pink, free from cancer and soaring pain free and flying with the butterflies.

Service

Funeral Service

Davis Funeral Chapel
6200 South Eastern Avenue
Las Vegas, NV  89119
Tuesday, January 9, 2018
1:00 PM