Donna Paige Obituary

Donna Hilderbrand Paige

March 25th, 1933-July 16th, 2025

Donna Hilderbrand was born to parents Edgar Ivan and Eva Love Hilderbrand. The seventh of nine children, her childhood was filled with joyous times spent with her brothers and sisters in the Hilderbrand home on Cascade Road in Atlanta, Georgia. E.I. as he was known, was the Chief of Detectives for the Atlanta Police Department and Eva Love always made sure the family had what they needed growing up.

Donna loved people...she always spoke of the times she spent growing up and how much fun she and her sisters had together. Later in life, the highlight of her year was the sister's yearly trip to Panama City Beach, all six of them laughing and carrying on like they were back in the house on Cascade. She graduated from Brown High School in Atlanta and set upon her career as an office administrator for Law practices and CPA firms as her specialty.

She met Don Cagle and fell in love and they were married. God blessed them with two children; Patty and Don Jr. Tragically Patty came down with Leukemia and Don Sr. with Melanoma Cancer and they both passed within six months of each other leaving Donna and Don all alone. Donna was a strong woman of faith who always knew she was blessed with her large family that helped with care for Don while she worked to make ends meet.

In 1967, Bruce Paige entered her life and began dating and subsequently were married, beginning a new family by adopting Don and moving to the north side of the city. In 1968, Robert Paige was born to Bruce and Donna.

Donna was always a stylish dresser with bright colors and accented with the perfect jewelry. Her smile lit up every room she entered, and no one was a stranger after a few minutes with her. She loved cooking, sewing, pottery, macrame among other hobbies she enjoyed. Her true joy though was family...Hilderbrand and Cagle reunions were a mainstay every year when all the families got together, broke bread, sang songs and relived their childhood together. When there was a need, Donna volunteered to help, running several community organizations in her life, volunteering as a hostess at the Georgia Governor's mansion during Jimmy Carter's tenure and always lending a helping hand at the church or wherever it was needed.

Later in their marriage, Susan and Carol, daughters from Bruce's first marriage entered their life and Donna accepted them as her own. Her family had grown again, and she was joyous that she had more children to love.

In later years, Bruce and Donna retired to Lake Oconee where again they both volunteered to help the church, community organizations including the hospital and neighborhood organizations. They loved their life on the lake, welcoming neighbors over to the house for a meal or get together, playing in her weekly bridge game with her friends or just sitting on the porch taking in all the beauty of the lake. One of her greatest joys was having her grandchildren down to the lake where each of them enjoyed playing board games and doing puzzles. Known as Nonna to them, she loved watching them grow up and hearing about their accomplishments in school or sports or band or arts.

Donna is survived her daughters, Susan Paige Abken and Carol Paige Hunt, her sons Don Paige and Robert Paige, grandchildren Matthew and Mitchell Paige, Paige and Brennan Healey, Elise and Carol Amelia Abken, Duane and Miles Paige and Great-grandchildren Adeline and Olivia Paige.

We all take comfort that Donna is reunited with her beloved Bruce, Don Sr., Patty, and her sisters and brothers that preceded her in death. Peace be with you Nonna...

Memorial Service is scheduled for August 9th at Crowell Brothers Funeral Home at 5051 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092. Visitation begins at 3pm and services at 4pm. The family asks that in lieu of flowers that you consider volunteering for an organization in need in Donna and Bruce's memory.

On-line condolences may be expressed at www.crowellbrothers.com. Arrangements entrusted to Crowell Brothers Funeral Homes & Crematory, 5051 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092. 770-448-5757.