Dona Lowrimore

Former Woodstock resident Dona Lowrimore, an attorney, passionate advocate, and stellar host, passed away on Jan. 29 in Pescia, Italy, from a sudden and debilitating illness.
She had been living in the mountain town of Montecatini Alto in Tuscany with her husband, Larry, for the past five years. They renovated Villa Torquato, a magnificent 16th century home with stunning views, and their olive oil is cherished annually by friends in Italy and America.
A graduate of The John Marshall Law School in 1990 at the age of 48, she practiced family law in McHenry County for more than 20 years. She was a passionate advocate for children during custody battles.
In 1996, Dona opened a successful solo law practice on Woodstock Square, next to Interiors Anew, co-owned by her friend Addie Burns.
Dona and Larry were known for their wonderful dinner parties at their homes in Glencoe, Bull Valley, and Italy – including a 45-person, five-course sit-down dinner on New Year’s Eve, 1999, on Valley Hill Road.
In Italy, they were famous for their Thanksgiving dinners that always included a pasta dish with the Bartoli family sauce and meatballs.
Dona was born in Baltimore, Md., in 1942. She graduated with degrees from Villa Julie College, where she was class president, and Morgan State University.
She is survived by her husband, Larry Lowrimore, formerly an executive with Aptar Group; her sons and their wives, Dean and Christina Smith, of Ithaca, N.Y., and Brendan and Elaine Smith, of Dallas, Texas; and four grandchildren, Emma Smith, Ian Smith, Mary Julia Smith, and Quinn Smith.
The family has asked that donations be made in Dona’s name to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, bcrf.org .