It is with great sadness that Donna Marion Boynton/Savage’s family announces her death on October 7, 2023, which occurred at her residence. She was born in Chesley, ON, on July 5, 1949, a daughter of the late James and Ina (Wilson) Boynton. She grew up on a farm in southern Ontario, attended Guelph University, lived in Northern Ontario and Sweden before moving to the greater Saint John area in 1975.
Donna was an inquisitive, creative and hardworking person who was always pursuing her next project. She loved to learn new things, always reading, attending workshops, courses, etc. She expressed her creativity through many activities but particularly through flowers, the raising of her children, various crafts, cooking and designing building projects. She always enjoyed sharing her knowledge and work with others hoping to have a positive impact on their lives.
Her early careers were as a high school teacher in Northern Ontario and insurance adjustor in Saint John. The mid 1980s marked a significant change for her when she became a mother of 4 children. Wanting to spend more time with her children, she decided to turn her love of flowers into a business and opened Strawflower Ridge, the Dried Flower Farm, on Darlings Island, which she operated for about 10 years. She became a yoga instructor in the late 1990s, traveling, learning more and inspiring those around her. She also branched into other alternative healing practices.
She loved designing home and garden building projects, and in 2012 designed her family’s current residence on the Kingston Peninsula. When her sons started a vegetable farm, Savage Gardens, in 2013, Donna saw the opportunity to again turn to her love of flower growing and arranging and pass the knowledge to her children. With Donna’s guidance, Savage Gardens included arranged cut flowers in the business and, over the last several years, the business has transitioned into being a flower farm. Even in Donna’s last weeks, she was making plans for her next flower garden, always an optimist, never losing hope for the future.
Donna will be missed by her loving spouse Peter Savage; sons: Philip Savage (Jennifer Smith) and Nathan Savage; daughters: Kathleen Savage (Jean-Pierre Dubois-Godin) and Adrienne Savage; brother Bob (Ellen) Boynton; sister Pat (Frank) McCurdy; along with several cousins, nieces, nephews and other extended family members.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Reid’s Funeral Home (506-832-5541), 1063 Main Street, Hampton, NB, where visitation will be held on Sunday, October 15, 2023, from 2 to 5 PM. Donations in memory of Donna may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. Personal condolences to the family and charitable donations may be made through: ReidsFH.com.
