Dona Lone (Sedinger) Ashen

Devoted Mother, Grandmother, Sister and Friend, on May 6^th in Carmichael, California passed away three days after her 73^rd birthday from complications due to a stroke. She was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and moved to Newport Beach, California as a young child. She fell in love with the sun, sand, and ocean. In the summer of her senior year of high school her friends convinced her to enter the Miss Sport Fisher beauty pageant sponsored by the Newport Harbor Sport Fishing Association, and she was crowned Miss Sport Fisher 1952. Dona also has the distinction of being the first emergency patient admitted to Hoag Hospital. While on a friend’s motor boat docked at Balboa Island’s gas dock, an explosion occurred when the boat started. Dona and five of her friends where tossed into the harbor; all survived. In 1953, while dating John Sailors, Dona convinced her good friend Charlene Six (Sailors) to go on a blind double date with John’s good friend, Jimmy Ashen. Well, you can guess what happened next. From 1954 to 1966, she was married to James J. Ashen DDS and gave birth to six children, which began her lifetime commitment to an unconditional love for her children. She attended Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA and trained as a Vocational Nurse. While Jim was completing dental school, Dona worked for a Family Physician in Omaha, Nebraska prior to giving birth to her first child, Cathy. The matriarch of the Ashen Six, she was always there for all. While living in Newport Beach, her home was a place where all could go for encouragement or when you just needed someone to listen. Her home also hosted some great parties. Her love for animals was obvious by the countless dogs and cats she raised during her lifetime. She made weekly visits to the neighborhood pet store just to pet the animals. She has lived in Sacramento, California for the last 13 years with her eldest son Jim and his family. Her parents Edward and Lucy Sedinger precede her in death. Survived by her sister Diane Sedinger Keyes of Huntington Beach, CA; sons James J. Ashen Jr. (Kris), Michael S. Ashen (Shawndra), Edward J. Ashen (Kathy), Charles H. Ashen (Cindy) all of the Sacramento area; daughters Catherine Ashen–Bitetti of Citrus Heights CA. Patricia Ashen–Zimmerman (David) of Costa Mesa CA. Grandchildren Steven, James III, Paul, John, Patrick, Rex, Carly, Harrison, Benjamin, Christiana, Hannah, Sara, Michael Jr., Jada Ione, and the many friends who knew her as Grandma Dona. We will always remember Dona’s fun-loving personality, hospitality and love for animals. There will be a memorial service on Friday, May 25, 11:30am St. Joachim’s Church, 1964 Orange Ave. Costa Mesa, CA. Internment will be at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona Del Mar CA. Remembrances in Dona’s name can be made to the Sacramento Child Advocates Inc. 8745 Folsom Blvd., Suite 150 Sacramento, CA 95826 www.SacChildAdv.com or your favorite charity.