Obituary: Donna Louise Viel; Adventurous Spirit, She Traveled the World, Started a Travel Group With Her Friends and Took Two Exotic Trips a Year

Obituary from Peterson-O’Donnell Funeral Home.

Donna Louise Viel 67, of Danvers, beloved wife of Peter A.Viel, died Sunday Evening at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers surrounded by her loving family following a courageous battle with cancer.

Born in Boston, she was the daughter of the late William H. and Irene T. (Croteau) Olsen. She was raised and educated in Brookline and was a graduate of Brookline High School.

Donna was a dedicated family woman. She devoted her life to her family and raising her beloved children. After seeing her children off to adulthood, she began a professional career with Johnny Appleseed Company in Beverly having specialized as a merchandiser. Yet her focus was always her family.

With an adventurous spirit at heart, Donna traveled the world. She began a travel group with her friends taking two exotic trips a year, one by cruise the other by air and land. She visited many of the world’s most beautiful places and loved to share her adventures with her beloved friends. Her love of travel lead her to become a professional travel agent helping others enjoy the entire beautiful splendor that the world has to offer. Yet even in a far off place her grandchildren were the light of her life and she would often bring them home keepsakes from her travels. She was so very proud of all of her children and grandchildren and their accomplishments. She will forever be remembered for her dedication to her loving husband and children, her endless love of her grandchildren, her adventurous spirit and unforgettable smile.

Donna is survived by her loving husband of 47 years, Peter A. Viel of Danvers, her daughters, Robin McIntosh of Groveland and Leila Thomas and her husband Wayne of Freemont, N.H., her son, Scott Viel and his wife Laureen of Danvers, her beloved grandchildren, Nicholas, Devin and Oliva Viel, Jared and Paige McIntosh and Zachary, Kaylie and Cameron Thomas, her sisters, Deirdre Giffin and her husband Gregg of Westborough and Cheryl Smith of Freemont, N.H. and several nieces and nephews. She was also the sister of the late William Olsen III.

Epressions of sympathy may be made in Donna’s memory to the Kaplan Family Hospice House, C/O 75 Sylvain St., Danvers, MA 01923. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com