Obituary of Donna M. Hayes

Warrensburg: Donna Marie Hayes, 59, of Oak St., passed away peacefully, Tuesday, August 15, 2017, at Glens Falls Hospital, with her daughters and family by her side, following a two year battle with cancer. Heaven has gained an angel, as she’s been reunited with her beloved husband of 30 years, Richard Ray Hayes. Born December 6, 1957, in Glens Falls, she was the daughter of the late Donald Cheney and Nancy Alger. Donna resided in the Warrensburg area most of her life. She always wanted to be a wife, mom, and grandma, and had several small jobs but mainly stayed home to be a house wife after she met and married her soul-mate, Rick. The couple started a family right away and never left each other’s side, doing everything together; they had many amazing friends and were very well known and liked in town. They enjoyed seeing new places and going for rides, camping, and many mini vacations as a family; they were truly lost without each other and Donna spent ten long years without her love and it wore on her as time went on. We find a lot of comfort in knowing that they are now together again. Donna was the neighborhood “mom” and she loved all of her daughter’s friends. She enjoyed spending time watching her grandchildren play and grow, as well as family picnics, and the outdoors. She loved girl-dates with her daughters, as she called them, and that would always include shopping, eating, and tons of laughing until their faces hurt. Donna was a strong-willed, funny, loving, dependable, and faithful woman. In addition to her parents, Donna was predeceased by a brother, David Alger. She leaves behind her father, Harry Alger and his wife Cindy; two daughters, Shannon Dachel and her husband, Bryan, and Ricci Smith and her husband, Jason; grandchildren, Ryan and Connor Smith, Hadlie Dachel, and soon-to-arrive, Sydney Dachel; sisters-in-law, Patricia, Kim, and Mary; brother-in-law, Terry; brothers, Paul, Donald, Denise, Dawn, and Alexis; half-brothers and sisters, Denise, Amy, Sheila, Richard, Missy, Christine, and Tracey; and many amazing aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews that she loved like her own kids. She is also survived by her lifelong best friend, Marilyn Terrell and family, and her close friends that never left her side throughout her illness and were there for her every day, Vivian, Laura, Sister Dale, and Father Skip Holtz. At Donna’s request there will be no calling hours scheduled. A graveside service will be celebrated at 11:00 am, Monday, August 21, 2017 at the Warrensburg Cemetery, Hudson Street, Warrensburg. Mom will still be taking care of us and watching over us still from above. She hated goodbyes, so we will just say “see you, Love u, Mom”. Please visit www.alexanderfh.net for online guestbook and condolences.