Donna Mae (Hillmann) Quast

Donna (Hillmann) Quast May 29, 1934 – May 15, 2026

Donna (Hillmann) Quast, a beloved mother, nurse, and devoted member of Cheshire Lutheran Church, passed away peacefully on May 15, 2026, just two weeks before her 92nd birthday. She was born and raised on a small farm in Hector, Minnesota, where her family's deep Lutheran faith and proud German heritage shaped the woman, she would become.

Donna attended high school in Fairfax, MN, and went on to train as a nurse at Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. An adventurous spirit, she traveled extensively before marriage — touring Europe for three months and exploring Mexico, Oregon, Arizona, and California. In 1963, she and her high school friend David Quast were married at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Wellington Township, MN, and began a life together in New York.

Donna worked as a registered nurse throughout the New York area, from Manhattan to Long Island to Cortland Manor. She and David welcomed two sons, David and Carl, and eventually settled in Cheshire, Connecticut, where they found a warm home at Cheshire Lutheran Church — a congregation she remained devoted to for the rest of her life.

A woman of quiet generosity, Donna served as PTA president, volunteered with the YMCA, worked local elections, and was a cherished presence at church events and the summer Vacation Bible School program. She loved gardening, reading non-fiction, classical music, and cheering on her beloved New York Mets.

Donna was predeceased by her husband, David Quast, and her son, Carl Quast. She is survived by her son David Quast and his wife Kelly; and her three grandchildren, Liam Quast, Olivia Quast and her partner Graeme Stasyshyn, and Miranda Quast and her partner Jacob Cannavale. Burial will be at a later date in New York. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org, or to the East Hampton Marlborough Rotary Club Foundation P.O. Box 358 East Hampton, CT 06424.

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