Donna Rae Pavel

Donna Rae (McLaughlin) Pavel was born in Omaha, Nebraska on January 27, 1943 to Donald and Mildred (Smithberg) McLaughlin. She grew up in South Omaha the oldest of 2 brothers and one sister. At the age of 16, Donna quit school and began working to help support her family. She went on to get her GED and helped with all the reunions for South High School. Over the years she held a large varieties of jobs, including teaching dance with the Arthur Murray dance studios, packing house, Western Electric & more. The last 20 years she worked at several flower shops as a florist, which she loved and had a real talent for. She traveled to Pasadena twice to decorate floats with live flowers for the Rose Bowl parade. She also traveled to Washington D.C. to do the flowers for President George H.W. Bush's Inaguration. Dancing was always one of Donna's great passions. She taught herself every dance and could never waste a great dance tune and a dance floor. She married Gaylord DuRee in 1962, moved to southwest Omaha and had two sons: Rick and Travis. Donna's house was always the hub of neighborhood activity as she did ironing, hair and wedding cakes for the neighborhood ladies. They would frequently gather in the morning to discuss husbands, kids, friends, family and events. Donna had the ability to put 120% of herself in everything she did, whether it was creating a flower arrangement to dancing to having the many large holiday dinners. Asked how many were going to be at her home for an occasion, she would count her family and then add several more since any friend who needed a "Home for the holidays" was welcome. Donna married Larry Pavel in July of 2000 beginning a relationship that spawned a new zest for life for both of them. Traveling, dancing, and partying with friends most every night made them the envy of old and young alike. Larry said that one year of their life together was worth 5 years of the average marriage. Larry says it was the most exciting time of his life. Donna passed away on Monday, June 6, 2011 at the Methodist Hospital in Omaha. She was preceded by her father. Donna is survived by husband, Larry; sons and daugthers-in-law: Rick & Jody DuRee and Travis & Darla DuRee; step-children and spouses: Jolene & Kevin Vermeer, Scott & Kristi Pavel, and Vicki & Christopher Andersen; grandchildren: Kolten Lathrum, James Welty, Dalton DuRee and Dylan DuRee; step-grandchildren: Luke Pavel, Lauren Pavel, Ryan Vermeer, Drew Vermeer, Hank Andersen, Max Andersen and Claire Andersen; her mother Mildred Deutch; sister Lynda her husband Paul McEvoy and brother Ed and his wife Betty McLaughlin and nieces and nephews. Pavel, Donna Rae (DuRee) age 68 years of Omaha Survived by husband Larry; sons and daughters-in-law Rick and Jody DuRee and Travis and Darla DuRee all of Elkhorn; grandchildren Kolton, Dalton, Dylan, Nicholl and James; mother Mildred Deutch of Omaha; sister Lynda (Paul) McEvoy of Glenwood, IA; brother Ed (Betty) McLaughlin of Omaha; step children Jolene and Kevin Vermeer of Ankeny, Iowa, Scott and Kristi Pavel of Omaha and Vicki and Christopher Andersen of Omaha;7 step grandchildren; nieces and nephews; visitation with the family Wednesday 5 to 8 PM; funeral Thursday 11 AM at Bethany Lutheran Church in Elkhorn; private interment; Condolences to www.reichmuthfuneralhomes.com Reichmuth Funeral Homes 21901 W. Maple Rd. 402-289-2222

Donna Rae Pavel

January 27, 1943 - June 6, 2011