Donna Darlene Swanson Saba was born in Arcata on April 7, 1950 to Don and Betty Swanson of Blue Lake. On May 6, 2020 she was called to heaven to be an angel from Stanford Hospital due to complications from Waldenstroms, a rare blood cancer and pneumonia.

Donna was raised and schooled in Korbel, Blue Lake and graduated from Arcata High School. As a young girl Donna and several girls all had horses and rode together all over the town of Blue Lake and the valley. Many nights were spent camping on the Mad River overnight with a small campfire and using their saddles for a pillow with Susie Addison, Mary Mello, Diane Dutra and others.

On weekends, her friends from school would fill the house with slumber parties and giggles. Playing records, drinking soda and eating snacks, talking on the phone. You’d often hear her complaining to her dad about her brother, Donny, and his friends, Jeff and Leroy. No one got any sleep on the weekends.

Donna loved all animals and in her yard in Eureka were bird feeders. She would feed the birds several loaves of bread every morning and the yard would be full of deer grazing and pruning. Donna also loved to walk every day, rain or shine, on trails, the boardwalk or the mall. Donna was a kind person and full of grace. She will be missed but never forgotten.

She leaves behind her two sons in Eureka, Ben Saba and Jason Saba, grandson Gage Saba, granddaughter Stella Star Saba, mother Betty Swanson, brother Donny Swanson, uncle Joe, auntie Beverly Pitt from Klamath, her two close friends Judy and Diane and many more relatives.

Donna was preceded in death by many friends, uncles, aunts and grandparents Percy and Lina Reid, her father Don Swanson and loving husband Henry Saba.

Donna will be laid to rest at the family cemetery in Blue Lake. A celebration of life for Donna will be announced at a later date when all can gather.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Donna’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.