Mary Donna Froh

Mary Donna (Jocis) Froh, age 86, of Sheboygan and formerly of Port Washington, Wis., passed away peacefully with her family around her in the early morning of March 6, 2021, due to a brief illness after a fall.

She was born on Jan. 24, 1935, in Sheboygan, Wis., to Walter and Emelie (McNelis) Jocis.  

Mary Donna was a graduate of Sheboygan Central High School Class of 1953, and also attended Edgewood College in Madison, Wis.

On May 26, 1956, she married Orville Froh at Immaculate Conception Church, Sheboygan. Mary Donna and Orville welcomed twins, Therese (Tess) and Timothy, Mary Patrice and Monica. The family moved from Sheboygan for Orville’s work and settled in Port Washington, Wis., in 1971.

Mary Donna was a gentle and kind soul who loved her family very much. She had a strong faith and was an active member of her church, St. Mary’s, Port Washington, Wis.  She enjoyed singing in the church choir for 30 years, was a greeter and a member of St. Mary’s Christian Women’s Society.  She volunteered for the St. Vincent DePaul Society, as well as worked in the SVDP Society Store during her retirement.

She was a member of the Port Washington Women’s Club, always involved in the many “Salads to Go” fundraising events.  

She continued her love of singing as a member of the Port Washington Senior Chorus. Mary Donna took up golf with her husband, golfing with their friends, and played on the Hawthorne Honey’s Golf League. Going dancing with their neighbors and church friends was a big part of their weekend fun for many years.

After her children were in school, she worked at Avenue Flower Shop in Port Washington for 20 years, starting as a delivery driver, and with her creative talents rising to a floral designer.

Mary Donna was a creative spirit, sewing clothes for herself and her girls and grandchildren. She enjoyed putting her outfits together, always finding those matching earrings or a little bit of sparkle to add just so. She was known for always making the family home festive for holidays, baking special cookies for family members and sharing her family heritage by making traditional Lithuanian foods during holidays. She always made out of town relatives and friends feel welcome to her home, making sure they had plenty to eat and a place to stay.

In retirement years, Mary Donna and Orville enjoyed traveling with friends around the country, on a trip to Europe and taking a 45th anniversary cruise with the entire family. They eagerly babysat their three grandchildren whenever needed, and were always found in the audiences of every sporting, music and theater event of the grandkids.

Mostly Mary Donna loved being home, where she always said she didn’t need a cottage up north when she had her tree-filled backyard where she always planted her geraniums every summer. In 2020, as her mobility grew more difficult, she and her husband moved back to Sheboygan to live with their daughter.  

She will be dearly missed and forever in the hearts of her devoted husband Orville of Sheboygan; children Tess (Gary) Smith of Carterville, Ill., Tim (Debbie) Froh of Fond du Lac, Mary (Randy) Doers of McFarland and Monica Froh of Sheboygan; grandchildren Adam (Nikki) Meyer of Wentzville, Mo., Caroline (Peter) Wang of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Kathryn Doers of McFarland; and great-grandsons Landon, Logan, Layton Meyer and soon to arrive Henry Wang. She also leaves behind special goddaughter Therese Schowalter and many other relatives and friends met throughout her life.          

Mary Donna was preceded by her parents, her infant sister Eldonah and her two brothers, Wallace and Charles Jocis.

A private family service is being planned with burial at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Sheboygan. Arrangements  are being handled by Poole Funeral Home, Port Washington, Wis.  

Information and condolences available at www.poolefh.com or by calling (262) 284-4431.

The family expresses appreciation to all the Angels of Embrace Care Management and Sharon S. Richardson Home Hospice for making Mary Donna’s last days filled with kindness and dignity.  

Memorial donations to the Port Washington Food Pantry, 1800 N. Wisconsin St., Port Washington, WI 53074, or the Port Washington St. Vincent DePaul Society, 2673 County Rd. C., Port Washington, WI 53074, are greatly appreciated.