I love you,
I love me.
Beloved mother, wife, friend, artist, teacher & warrior.
GONE FROM MY SIGHT
I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,
spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts
for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck
of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.
Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone."
Gone where?
Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,
hull and spar as she was when she left my side.
And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port. Her diminished size is in me -- not in her.
And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone,"
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"
HENRY VAN DYKE
About Donna
Donna Mason Adams passed away January 20, 2024, after a valiant two-year battle with cancer. She was deeply loved by her family, her husband, and dozens of friends and former students. Donna was born June 28, 1964, in Burbank, CA. Her parents, Esther and Jerry Mason, raised 3 children in the San Fernando Valley. She was the youngest of the family and the only girl. The family enjoyed living all throughout Southern CA and eventually rooted in Encino, where her love for art and horses grew from when Donna attended Castlemont Elementary until she graduated from Chatsworth High School.
She went on to Pierce College and Cal State Northridge, where Donna found her love of sculpting and continued to nurture her studio work for decades to come; winning contests, participating in dozens of art exhibits, and having her sculptures displayed in galleries all over the country. Soon after college, Donna married and welcomed 2 children: her son, Vaughn, and daughter, Rachael.
After divorcing, the family settled in Thousand Oaks, where Donna continued to showcase her art and teach art classes, both independently and throughout the Conejo Valley within parks and recreation, senior centers, and the school district including 25 years with Madrona Elementary.
Donna truly loved working with students, teaching the wonders of color, texture, and imagination. Alongside her passion for teaching art, she was an animal lover and rescuer. She spent many years caring for horses and contributed to a robust horse community for which she fostered a connection between animal lovers and was beloved by all. She loved adventuring whether it be hiking on the local trails or navigating the terrain of a foreign country.
A pivotal event in her life was meeting her love, Matthew Burke, in 2007 where their magnanimous smiles and laughter delighted each other during an art exhibit at the Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks. Donna is survived by her husband Matthew, son Vaughn Adams, daughter Rachael Gildea (Sean), and grandson Owen.
She was predeceased by her parents Esther (2009) and Jerry (2012). She was widely known for her remarkable loving and light-hearted energy, and will always be remembered for her radiant smile, enthusiasm for life, and beautiful spirit.
Donna asked that donations in her memory be made to PANCAN, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
WHY YOUR SUPPORT MATTERS
Pancreatic cancer is one of the "toughest" cancers to fight, and we must act boldly to improve the lives of those afflicted. Key facts:
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An estimated 67,440 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2025.
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Approximately 51,980 Americans are expected to die from the disease this year.
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Projected to become second leading cause of cancer-related death by 2030.
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13% is the five-year survival rate, underlining the urgency for more research and patient services.