Obituary of Donna Jean Badet

Donna Badet, of Tucson, Arizona, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, February 25, at the age of 66. Donna left behind her husband, Brian, and their pet bunny. Donna was born on September 5, 1957, in Bremen, Indiana. She was the fourth of six children. She was preceded in death by her mother, Delores Ginther, and sister, Carol Higgins, and two nephews. She is survived by her father, Herman Ginther, four siblings, Karen (Joel) Howard, Janice (Rob) Nichols, Betty Jo (Mike) Weldy, and Herman Ginther, along with many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and -nephews. Donna worked at Safeway in Tucson for over 40 years. Her time there brought her close to a wide community of people. Her coworkers became her found family, and her customers became her friends. To know Donna was to know that she deeply and truly cared for you. Many of her friends were the lifelong sort. Her love for others was the type that builds those kinds of connections. An avid lover of nature, Donna walked five miles every day. Towards the end of her life, she was part of a walking group in her neighborhood. This group, as well as some of her coworkers and friends, organized a memorial walk for Donna, following the same route she took, shortly following her death. Donna often went hiking in her beloved Arizona mountains, and never missed an opportunity to explore nature no matter where she found herself. Donna’s love of the people in her life and her sense of adventure saw her join in on many family trips. Though she often felt some anxiety when in new places, she never let this stop her from experiencing what was on offer. Though she had a fear of heights, some fond memories include her going to the top of both the Seattle Space Needle and the Eiffel Tower. She never passed up a chance to travel with her family. Donna lived more than two thousand miles from her hometown, yet made a point to visit several times a year. For many years, the Ginther siblings took a vacation with their mom. During these trips, Donna’s sense of humor and silly laughter had a chance to shine. She never felt better than when with her family. May she be remembered for the love, joy, and laughter she shared with the world. We love you, Donna