Donna June (nee Riley) Montana

Donna June Montana (née Riley) passed peacefully Tuesday, February 3, 2026, surrounded by her loved ones. She was born on October 20, 1941.

Donna was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John Montana; as well as her mother, Myrtle; and her sister, Ruby "Maxine" Barks.

She is survived by her three daughters: Sheila (Michael) Conrad of Delavan, Wisconsin; Diana (William) Nuyttens of McHenry, Illinois; and Sherry (Tim) Sandnes of Union Grove, Wisconsin. Donna was a proud grandmother to Bridget (Tony) Lawless, Jennifer Conrad, Laura (Chad) Strange, Heather (Bob) Kucharz, and Corinne (Aaron) Sheffield; and a cherished great-grandmother to Chloe, Damien (Amanda), Owen,  Lily, Gavin, and Shiloh. She was also blessed with two great-great-grandchildren, Oliver and Beckett.

Donna is further survived by her sister, Carol Neagles of St. James, Missouri; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Donna was deeply loved by her family and friends and will be sadly missed.

At just fifteen years old, Donna began a remarkable career in the restaurant industry, eventually serving as Director of Operations for International House of Pancakes for more than 36 years. Later in life, she pursued her passion for travel, returning to school to become a travel agent. She worked with The Travel Team for over 20 years, helping others explore the world she loved so much.

Donna was an avid reader and had a lifelong love of travel, always eager to learn, explore, and experience new places.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the V Care Hospice team for their compassionate care and support.

The service will be private.  Private burial will be in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, Illinois

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