Donalyn (Bosh) Martin

Donalyn Martin (Bosh), a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully at Wellbrooke of South Bend on April 8, 2026, with her family by her side. She was born on August 4, 1948, in Bellevue, Pennsylvania, to the late Vincent J. and Patricia L. (Moreth) Bosh.

On January 21, 1979, in Great Falls, Montana, Donalyn married the love of her life, Dennis D. Martin, who preceded her in death on August 30, 2023. Together, they built a life centered on love, family, and service to others.

Donalyn was a daycare provider for over 30 years. Outside of her profession, Donalyn had many passions.  She was a dedicated member of Unity Church since 1984, where she served as board president and later as Youth Ed Director.  Her pride and joy were always her YOU (Youth of Unity) teen groups. Affectionately known as “Nonnie,” she dedicated her life to mentoring young people and left a lasting impact on countless lives.

Donalyn’s creativity and ability to find life lessons in all things led her to be an avid fan of Harry Potter. This played an instrumental role in developing her beloved Harry Potter camps, which included Platform 9¾, sorting ceremonies, wands, potion classes, Quidditch tournaments, butter beer, chocolate frogs, and so much more. These camps were held in her backyard, at her church, at The Center for the Homeless, and even in Kentucky.  Her passion for helping young people, combined with her love for the Harry Potter series, reflected her joyful spirit, creativity, and deep commitment to living a life of service.

She also enjoyed cheering on her favorite teams, including Notre Dame football and girls' basketball, as well as the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Donalyn is survived by her loving daughters: Jocelyn (Jack Edgarton) Martin of Granger, Indiana; Kelsey (Drey) Martin of South Bend, Indiana; sons Tim (Lesa) Skinner of Amherst, Ohio; and Aaron (April) Skinner of Wadsworth, Ohio. She was a proud and devoted grandmother to Rylee, Noah, and Jayden Edgarton, and Regan and Mason Skinner, and a cherished great-grandmother to Genevieve. She is also survived by her sister, Tammy Bosh of Great Falls, Montana; her sister-in-law, Diane Martin of Osceola, Indiana; lifelong friend George Maher of Great Falls, MT; friends and loving caregivers Laurie Rutkowski & Patty Minnick; as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, cherished friends, and neighbors.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Denny; her brothers, Kerry and Rory Bosh; her brother-in-law, Gary Martin; and brother of her heart, Randy Davis.

The Family extends their heartfelt thanks to the entire staff of Wellbrooke of South Bend and to the nurses and CNAs on floor 5 at St. Joseph Hospital, all of whom treated Donalyn and her family with such kindness and compassion. You have become family.

In accordance with her wishes, Donalyn will be cremated. A memorial gathering will be held on April 18, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, with a memorial service to follow. Services will take place at Palmer Funeral Home - Hickey Chapel, 17131 Cleveland Rd, South Bend, IN 46635.

Donalyn will be remembered for her warmth, generosity, and the lasting impact she made on the lives of those she touched.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

For those unable to attend, there will be a livestream available at: 

https://teams.microsoft.com/convene/townhall?eventId=d4f09036-a2ac-4384-8b49-931ede17c0b2@1a68fe60-ab16-4706-8be6-8d493f4cedb0&sessionId=9fa72aa4-f6c2-40ea-ac8f-bb8e222728fb

or for your mobile device:

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/d4f09036-a2ac-4384-8b49-931ede17c0b2@1a68fe60-ab16-4706-8be6-8d493f4cedb0

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.