Donna Elaine Wilson Johnson DePalma, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2026, at the age of 87. She was born on July 13, 1938, to Cora Estelle Dolores Mumford and Donald Ray Carpenter.

Donna lived a life marked by resilience, faith, creativity, laughter, and deep devotion to family and community. From an early age, Donna valued honesty, trust, and kindness—principles that guided her relationships and daily life. She believed the meaning of life was found in serving others and treating everyone with compassion, values she lived by consistently and generously.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her step-father, Ward Wilson; her husband, Blaine Hanks Johnson; and her beloved first grandchild, Luke David Johnson. Despite enduring significant loss, Donna faced life's challenges with quiet strength, gratitude, humor, and grace.

She is survived by her devoted husband, John DePalma, with whom she shared more than two decades of joy, travel, and companionship. She also leaves behind her six children: Mark (Becky) Johnson, Matt (Oaknon) Johnson, Scott (Kim) Johnson, Meisha (Ken) Allred, Tara Johnson, and Wendi (Adam) Dunford. Her children were her greatest pride, and she raised them with unconditional love, encouragement, and strong values.

Family was always at the center of Donna's life. She was blessed with 20 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren, each of whom brought her immense joy. She often expressed gratitude for witnessing her family grow across generations.

She was also a cherished stepmother to Mike (Jalayne) DePalma, Mark DePalma, and Angela DePalma, embracing them—and their 17 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren—as her own.

Music was a lifelong passion and a defining part of Donna's legacy. She devoted decades of faithful service to ward choirs, sang in a beloved trio, and directed the Salt Lake City Children's Choir, nurturing young voices and fostering confidence, discipline, and joy. Music was her ministry and her language of faith and connection.

Raised in the American Baptist Church in Salt Lake City alongside her sisters, Connie Campman and Susan Everts, Donna later joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in June of 1971. There, she served in many callings, most often in roles centered around music, where she uplifted and inspired countless individuals through song.

Donna also had a remarkable gift for creating warm, welcoming homes. Wherever she lived, she made spaces comfortable, beautiful, and full of love.

Known for her sharp wit and wonderful sense of humor, Donna was genuinely hilarious—quick with a clever remark or mischievous grin. Her laughter brought comfort, eased tension, and drew people close.

She maintained many treasured friendships that spanned decades and valued loyalty deeply. Donna considered herself richly blessed to have lived a full and meaningful life. She will be remembered for her kindness, humor, creativity, faith, and unwavering love for family and friends. Her legacy lives on in the many lives she touched and the family she cherished so deeply.

A viewing will be held on Friday, January 23, 2026, from 6:00–8:00 p.m., and again on Saturday, January 24, 2026, from 9:30–10:30 a.m., both at the LDS Chapel located at 481 East Center Street in Orem, Utah. Funeral services will follow on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the same location.

To view the service for Donna online please click here. www.walkersanderson.com