Donna Jean (Card) Glendenning
Marriages
Lawrence Glendenning - 1972
at Vizcaya Gardens in Miami, Florida.
Burial Details
Obituaries
Vail Daily page A8 - January 10, 2014
Our loving mother, Donna Jean Card Glendenning, passed away Dec. 31 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. She was 67.
Donna grew up in Miami and graduated from Coral Gables Senior High School in 1963. She was a cheerleader in high school and, according to a former classmate, was also the prettiest girl in school.
She attended the University of Florida and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in interior design in 1970. She founded her own design firm, Designline Inc., in 1975 and operated it for more than 35 years. Her warm personality suited her well in her career as she catered to clients with grace and dignity. She designed countless residences and offices throughout South Florida, as well as restaurants in New York City and a home in Caracas, Venezuela. She created lasting friendships with many of her clients.
Donna married Lawrence Glendenning at Vizcaya Gardens in Miami in 1972. They were married for 25 years.
A son, Cameron, was born in 1977, followed by a daughter, Lauren, in 1981.
Donna was a doting mother — her children became the most important people in her life, and she devoted much of her time and energy to ensure their childhood would be one filled with love, enjoyment and blissful memories.
She never missed a baseball game or even a practice, remembers Cameron. She was the team scorekeeper and a fixture in the bleachers at every game he ever played.
When Lauren showed interest in a new activity, Donna would have her signed up for it in a flash — and it would always be with the best teacher or coach she could find.
When Lauren injured her knee in 2003, Donna found the orthopedic surgeon who operated on Miami Dolphins players because she knew he would be the best.
“Her selflessness knew no boundaries, especially when it came to Cameron and me,” Lauren said. “She was the most loving and caring mother I could imagine, and I feel so lucky that she was mine.”
Her efforts never went unnoticed. Lauren’s friends remember how she would make elaborate snacks for them during sleepovers, from beautiful fruit trays to freshly made deviled eggs.
Cameron laughs at a memory of his mother while visiting relatives in Canada. The native Floridian would often grumble, “S---, it’s cold!” The saying became an enduring inside joke with her family.
“My overall best memory of her is how throughout my entire life, every single friend I ever had loved her,” Cameron said. “She made everyone feel loved and welcome and it always proved to me how special she was. And I knew she did it all for me.”
She made lasting impressions on classmates from high school, many of whom wrote to her children recently about the kind-hearted person she was even though they hadn’t seen her in 50 years. Everyone loved her sense of humor and her fun spirit.
Donna’s last few years of life were filled with many doctor’s office visits and hospital stays, but she remained positive, brave, loving and kind.
In September, she attended a Florida Marlins game with her mother, Eloise, and daughter, Lauren. The Marlins organization invited them to the game after a Miami Herald article about Donna and Eloise, who watched every pitch of more than 600 games while on the phone together.
The Marlins hosted them for a special day at the park where Donna and Eloise announced, “Play ball,” and got to meet their favorite players.
Donna cherished the day and the memory became one of her fondest.
Donna’s love and generosity will never be forgotten. She will be forever missed, but her love will live on in the hearts of the many, many lives she touched.
She is survived by her son, Cameron Glendenning, his wife, Cynthia, and their children, Jackson, 5, and Lila, 20 months, of Los Angeles; her daughter, Lauren Glendenning, of Vail; her mother, Eloise Card, of Miami; her brother Jack Card, of Pembroke Pines, Fla.; as well as many loving nieces, nephews and wonderful friends. Donna was preceded in death by her sister, Carolyn Belin, and her brother Michael Ace Card.
Services will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at Southern Memorial Park, 15000 W. Dixie Highway, North Miami, Fla.
