Obituary of Donna K. Hayden

Donna Kathleen Hayden, aged 78, of Maplewood, NJ, passed away at home on March 11, 2024. 

Donna was born in Newark and grew up in Union. `She attended St. Michael’s Primary School and graduated from Mount St. Mary's High School and Boston College, where she received a degree in mathematics. 

She taught school and raised two children before returning to Kean University to earn a master’s degree in psychology, after which she worked at Summit Oaks Hospital as a drug and alcohol counselor until her retirement. Ms. Hayden was instrumental in establishing the hospital’s dual diagnosis program.

Donna was a loving mother, a thoughtful friend, a skilled and compassionate clinician, a world traveler, and an animal lover. She was an avid reader whose hobbies included collecting antiques, interior design and tennis.

She is survived and will be deeply missed by her daughter Kathryn, son Patrick and his wife Alyssa, and grandchild Francis. Donna was preceded in death by her father Bernard Hinrichs (2010) and mother Elizabeth Hinrichs (2018), to whom she gave devoted care. 

A ceremony in her honor will be held at The Jacob A. Holle Funeral Home, 2122 Millburn Ave, Maplewood on Sunday, March 17^th from 2:00 – 6:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the ASPCA in memory of Donna Hayden.