Donna J. (Burkhardt) Horn Alucho

Donna J. (Burkhardt) Horn Alucho, age 83, of Mentor, Ohio, died Tuesday October 3, 2017. She was born March 19, 1934 in Cleveland, Ohio to Carl and Elvira Burkhardt. Donna graduated from Mentor High School in 1952, and in 1955 as a registered nurse from the New England Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in Boston. Donna led a life of adventure and of service. In 1973, she and her first husband, William “Bill” Horn, and their children, Carl and Karen, moved to Alaska, where they became members of the Baha’i Faith. After Bill died, Donna moved to Liberia, West Africa, to assist the Baha’i community there. In Liberia, Donna married Samuel Alucho Sr., and together they raised Mary, Mercy, and Samuel Jr. Donna, Sam and their children moved to Mentor, Ohio, in 1982, and became active members of the Mentor Baha’i community. Donna retired from Hillcrest Hospital in 2000. A lover of nature, Donna enjoyed walks at Headlands Beach and the Holden Arboretum, and loved watching birds out her back door. She was an accomplished seamstress and creative problem-solver (she designed the octagonal house her family built in Haines, Alaska). She embraced the Nigerian culture of her second husband, and loved music. As a Baha’i, she had a firm belief in the oneness of humanity and that “World peace is not only possible but inevitable.” Survivors include her dear sister, Alaine (Carl) White of Chardon, Ohio; her children: Carl (Tim) Horn of Nenana, Alaska, Karen Horn of Ketchikan, Alaska, Mary Alucho of Cleveland, Ohio, Mercy (Nevin) Jenkins of Shaker Heights, Ohio, and Samuel Alucho Jr. of Mentor, Ohio; grandchildren: Sanjeev (Kristin) Prasad, Rajeev Prasad, Todd Smith, Rayshawn Alucho, DeArah Alucho, William Horn, Aria Saylor, Bahji Jenkins, and Orion Jenkins; and great-grandchildren: Allison Prasad, Graeden Prasad, and Ariana Prasad. Preceding her in death was her first husband, Bill Horn, who passed away in 1976, and her second husband, Samuel Alucho Sr., who passed away in 2010; and her parents: Carl and Elvira Burkhardt. The family will receive friends from 12-1:15 p.m. on Monday, October 9, 2017 at the Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Ave. Mentor, OH 44060. A funeral service will be 1:15 pm Monday, October 9, 2017 at the funeral home, followed by interment at Mentor Cemetery, Mentor. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Audubon Society or to a favorite charity. Send condolences at www.brunners.com.

Donna J. (Burkhardt) Horn Alucho

March 19, 1934 - October 3, 2017