Dona Rae (Provencal) Gavin, 88, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, passed away peacefully on January 3, 2026, at her home. Dona was born on September 29, 1937, in Milford, NH to Hazel (Willey) and Arthur Provencal Sr.

She grew up in Chelmsford, Massachusetts and graduated from Chelmsford High School. She married her high school sweetheart, Richard (Dick) Gavin in 1954. Dona and Dick bought a home and raised their three children, Dale, Rick and Jennifer, in Chelmsford, as well.

Dona was among the pioneers of career women in her day, breaking ground as an administrator in the research division of Polaroid Corporation for many years and serving on the company's advisory group on women's issues. She retired in 1990 to care for Dick following his disability.

In her retirement, she and Dick relocated to Scarborough, Maine and lovingly helped care for her young grandsons, spending many afternoons at baseball fields, area swimming pools, and Higgins Beach. They were also known to travel to Boston frequently for all things granddaughter related.

She and Dick were married for fifty years when he passed in 2004. In 2022, she moved to The Landing in Cape Elizabeth where she enjoyed friendships with many residents and staff alike.

Dona will be missed by family and friends including her daughters Dale Gavin of Cape Elizabeth, Jennifer Gavin of Loudon, NH; her son, Richard (Rick) Gavin Jr. of Portland; her grandchildren, Ryan Gavin and his wife Erica Wozniak of Windham, Zachary Gavin of Chicago, IL, Nel Decker-Gavin of New York, NY and Pearl Decker-Gavin of Loudon, NH; brother Arthur (Archie) Provencal Jr. of Chelmsford, MA; nieces Amy (Provencal) McGuiggan of Chelmsford, MA and Jill Provencal of Gloucester, MA.

A celebration of life will take place in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Dona's memory to the Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine www.giving.gsfb.org