Florence Donavant

Florence Ann Brandt Donavant entered eternal life on September 29, 2026, at her home in Arvada, Colorado. She was born May 23, 1929, in Cudahay, Wisconsin, to Louis and Emma Brandt. She is survived by her sons, Michael (Louise) Donavant of Centennial, Colorado, and Jim Donavant of Arvada, Colorado. She is also survived by grandsons, Jack and Jonathan Donavant, and daughter-in-law Julia Donavant of Tucson, Arizona. Also surviving are her brother Dennis (Marianne) Brandt of Westminster, Colorado and many nephews, nieces, great nephews, and great nieces. She was preceded in death by her husband Jack Donavant, her son Patrick Donavant, her parents, Louis and Emma Brandt, her brothers, Jerry and Larry (Carol) Brandt, and her sister Jean (Tim) Adamczak.

Florence was always very hardworking and worked on the family farm, in the family sweet shop, and at a local candy factory during her childhood in Wisconsin. In high school she developed superior typing and stenography skills and went to Washington, DC where she worked at the Pentagon. Her job took her to Europe, where she met her husband, Jack, who was in the US Navy. They were married in Europe and lived in Germany and England.

When they returned to the United States, they originally settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and then moved Colorado. Jack passed away on May 3, 1959, and Florence raised her three sons as a single mother. She returned with her family to Wisconsin for a bit, but then they returned to Colorado and settled in Arvada. It was then that she bought the house that she lived in until her death.

Florence worked at Elitch’s and for caterers for a short time, and then she worked for the Internal Revenue Service and the United States Postal Service for many years. She retired from the Post Office after a long and stellar career. She enjoyed travelling and visiting Hawaii and Alaska as well as visiting family in Wisconsin on many occasions. She was a wonderful cook and loved to read and go to the movies. She was an active and faithful parishioner at the Shrine of St. Anne Catholic Church for many years.

A memorial service will be held at the Shrine of St. Anne Catholic Church at 7555 Grant Place, Arvada, Colorado, 80002 on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 10:30 am, and a luncheon reception will follow. A Rosary will precede the service at 10:00 am, and burial will take place at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery, 12801 W. 44th Ave, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 at 2:30 pm.