Donna Silver-Mccormack

Donna Antoinette (Trepanowski) Silver-McCormack (1952-2023)

Donna A. Silver-McCormack, 71, of Goshen, NY, passed away on December 13, 2023. She was born on May 10, 1952, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the middle child of five siblings.

Donna is survived by her husband of 19 years, Vince McCormack, her daughter, Beth Silver, her sisters, Regina Spain, Francine Dale, and Georgette Block, and her brother, Marty Trepanowski. When Vince and Donna married, Vince’s daughters Laura Hayden, Heidi Feliciano and Donna McCormack-Bye became full-fledged daughters to Donna as well. Donna is also survived by a large, blended family of nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom she adored equally. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Helen Trepanowski.

Donna co-owned and operated a business in the garment center along with her first husband of 24 years, Connie Silver. This was followed by a successful career in real estate. Later she started a joint venture with her dear friend Carol Cullen called Accessory After the Fact, whose products are still enjoyed by many today. Donna eventually retired.

In the 1947 version of the Bishop’s Wife, Dudley the angel says, “The only people who grow old were born old to begin with. You were born young, you will stay that way.” Seldom has there been a quote to better describe someone. She soaked up unique experiences and loved all the arts, she never felt she was too old to do or see something new. Broadway shows, local performances at Cornerstone Theatre, and her grandchildren’s high school plays and music recitals were all attended with equal enthusiasm.

Donna also had boundless energy. It is strange to see her sitting still in photographs as she was always a woman in motion. She even spoke with her hands flying around, to the detriment of many a wine glass, and the laments of her hearing-impaired mother who would try to read Donna’s lips behind the flurry of excited gestures. Were Donna alive right now, she would be in NYC walking at high speeds with friends or family in tow to see the holiday displays in Macy’s windows, a decades-long annual tradition, then up to Rockefeller Center for the Christmas tree followed by checking out what Saks had concocted. To Donna, an experience was made better when it was shared with someone else.

Another passion of Donna’s was literature in general and words in particular. She would point out the “crenellations” at the top of a building. Blue was rarely just blue, instead it might be cobalt, peacock, marine or sapphire. She was deadly at Scrabble, flew through crossword puzzles effortlessly, and took pride in sharing her Wordle scores. As a young woman, she even had a short poem published in a children’s magazine.

Throughout the years, she believed strongly in the importance of volunteering and helping the community. From selling t-shirts at PS41 as a PTA mom, to clearing debris and planting trees with the Central Park Conservancy, to making gift baskets and tricky trays for fundraisers, she understood how often what is needed is not just money, but someone being there, and doing what needs to be done.

She cherished the time spent with her loved ones and always made sure they felt valued and supported. In her final months it was important to her to make final memories with her loved ones. A last birthday celebration, a last upscale brunch, a last Thanksgiving. She wanted that to be what people remembered, not the illness, nor the end. Which is why per Donna's wishes, there will not be a wake or funeral. However, in honor of her memory, a celebration of life will be held around her birthday in May. Further details will be released closer to the date. It will be a time for family and friends to gather, reminisce, and celebrate the remarkable life of Donna Silver-McCormack.

Cremation will take place under the immediate care and supervision of Brendan & Thomas Flynn at Oxford Hills Crematory, Inc., Chester, N.Y.

Funeral care is under the supervision of Flynn Funeral & Cremation Memorial Centers