Donna Marie Zimmerman

Donna Marie Zimmerman, a devoted wife, beloved mother, dear friend, and a woman of faith, passed away peacefully at her home in Durham, NC on December 14, 2021. Donna was born on August 6, 1961, as the second of three children to Bernardine Polak and the late Raymond Polak Sr.

Along with her mother, Bernardine, Donna is survived by her husband, Michael W. Zimmerman Sr, and three sons, Michael W. Jr, Tyler Raymond (Taylor Mae), and Nelson James. She is also survived by her older sister Cheryl (Jay) Woloski and younger brother Raymond Jr. (Laurie) Polak in addition to five nieces and nephews.

Donna was born and raised in Wilkes-Barre PA, and graduated valedictorian from Coughlin High School in 1979 before enrolling at Bloomsburg University, where she graduated summa cum laude in 1983. After graduation she earned her CPA license and began her career with Ernst & Young, before completing her master’s degree at UNC-Chapel Hill and beginning her long tenure at Glaxo-Smith Kline in North Carolina, where she spent the rest of her life with her husband Mike raising their three sons.

Donna was best known for her activity in the Raleigh-Durham community. An avid “room parent” and volunteer, she would often be found coordinating activities and events in her family parish and sons’ schools at Immaculate Conception, and Cardinal Gibbons High. As a woman of deep Catholic faith, Donna was a lector and Eucharistic minister at Immaculate Conception for over 25 years. Without fail, she consistently frequented the sidelines of her boys’ innumerable sporting events throughout their grade school, high school, and college years, usually with camera in hand by her husband’s side, cheering proudly.

Donna found her energy and life in people - whether it be through her work in the church, volunteering at the Durham Rescue Mission, or on long walks at the beach with her family. She lived a life of significance embodied by an endless generosity of time, talents, and treasure, marked by the love she showed to others and instilled in in their hearts, most notably in her close friends and family.

A Mass of Christian burial will be offered 11:00 AM Tuesday from Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Friends may visit 5-7 PM Monday at Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Donations in Donna’s memory may be made to Immaculate Conception Church, 901-A W. Chapel Hill St. Durham 27701.