Memorial For:  Donaleen Smith nee Greenfield     
Memorial Date: May 12, 2023 
Donaleen Smith nee Greenfield, 92, of Niverville formerly of Winnipeg and Steinbach, passed away Tuesday, March 7th at Heritage Life Personal Care Home. She is survived by 1 daughter, 1 son, and their families. She was predeceased by her husband Donald. 
Cremation has taken place. 
A memorial service for Donaleen Smith nee Greenfield will be held May 12th, 2pm at Niverville Heritage Centre. 
Donations may be made to the Memory Garden project through Niverville Health and Community Foundation. 
Arrangements by Klassen Funeral Home, Winnipeg. 

Donaleen Smith (nee Greenfield)

Donaleen Smith (nee Greenfield), age 92, passed away peacefully at the Heritage Life Personal Care Home in Niverville, Manitoba, on March 7, 2023. She is pre-deceased by her parents, Sylvia, and William (Bill) Greenfield; her siblings June Sadler, Iris Gilmour, Bill Greenfield, Joyce Richens; and her husband of 57 years, Donald Smith.
Donaleen is survived by her, daughter Shelleen (Eldon) Stoesz; son Chad Smith; grand-daughter Kali (Rob); grand-son Connor (Abi); and great-grandchildren Olive and Wyatt. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Robbie (Bill) Greenfield and a caring family of nieces and nephews.

Donaleen will be interred privately in the Gardens of Remembrance at St. Vital Cemetery. To honour and celebrate Donaleen’s life, there will be a memorial service at the Niverville Heritage Centre, 100 C Heritage Trail, Niverville, on Friday, May 12th, at 2:00 PM. In Donaleen’s honour, they welcome donations for the Memory Garden Project at the Heritage Life Personal care home. Cheques are payable to: Niverville Health and Community Foundation. Please list HLPCH Memory Garden in the memo line. The foundations mailing address is Box 61, Niverville, MB, ROA IEO. For any questions, please call Jessica at 204-388-5000, ext. 210.

Donaleen was born March 14th, 1930, in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. She grew up in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan until age 8, when the Greenfield’s moved to Winnipeg. They lived briefly at 251 Ash Street, then moved to 123 Brock Street, where Donaleen had many fond memories. After graduating from Kelvin High, Donaleen went to Success Business College to learn administrative skills, including touch (blind) typing and shorthand. Skillset in hand, she moved to England in her early twenty’s for 3 years. There, she briefly worked for the Ford Motor Company, then for a fashion buyer. After returning to Winnipeg, she took a job at the Rupert’s Land Trading Company (Hudson’s Bay Company), where she met Donald. In the 1950’s, it was bad form to be seriously involved with a fellow employee, so Donaleen looked for a new job. She found one at the School of Nursing - executive assistant to the director, Sister Marie Bonin of the Grey Nuns.

The ‘2 Don’s’, Donaleen and Donald married in 1960. Their first home was an apartment on Assiniboine Avenue. Then, with plans for their own family at 777 Waterford Avenue in Fort Garry, Donaleen became a stay-at-home mom and raised Shelleen and Chad. At age 55, almost 20 years out of the workforce, Donaleen polished off her skills, developed new ones and went back to work. She traded her typewriter for a computer and a job at the Society for Manitobans with Disabilities (SMD). After 8 years as executive assistant to the director of pre-school, Donaleen retired.

In 2004, Donaleen and Donald moved to a condominium. After 10 enjoyable years, they reluctantly accepted assisted living was the next step. They moved to Riverwood Square for 2 years, when healthcare needs prompted another move. Shelleen and Chad explored all options including a move to Steinbach. Donaleen and Donald quickly warmed to the idea, and moved to Bridgepark Manor, in 2016. The new friends Donaleen made there were incredibly supportive when Donald passed away in 2017.

In 2019, Donaleen suffered a stroke and treated at Bethesda Regional Health Centre in Steinbach. In 2020, she moved to Villa Youville – a care home in Ste. Anne, then to the Heritage Life Personal Care Home in Niverville, July 2022. In recent years, Donaleen received a great deal of support from the community. In recognition, her family extends their heartfelt thanks to the great individuals and teams from Bethesda Hospital, Silver Lining Care, and Donaleen’s care homes. We are forever grateful. The family is also grateful for the support received from family and friends.

At the service on May 12th, the family looks forward to sharing stories and reflections celebrating Donaleen. They also welcome yours, however you wish to share them. As part the celebration, we invite you to view and share on this site with the option of receiving updates.

Please visit www.klassenfuneralhome.com to share your memories, view photos, and leave condolences.