Shirley Donnell

Shirley Donnell, age 83 of Greenville, passed away on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in April of this year.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 14, 2026, at the Greenville Free Methodist Church. Interment will follow in Mt. Auburn Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Donnell–Wiegand Funeral Home in Greenville. Memorials in Shirley’s memory may be made to the Greenville Free Methodist Church or Holt International Adoption Agency. Service will be live-streamed:

https://youtube.com/@greenvillefmc?si=sZJ5HSFu6xitLrVf

Shirley Mary Dargan, the daughter of Rev. Robert E. and Edna Stevenson Dargan, was born December 12, 1942, in Madoc Ontario, Canada. She was one of four children growing up in Canada, 3 brothers: Robert, Javan, and Danny.

Shirley grew up in Canada, attended the local schools, and Lorne Park College thru the 13th grade. She then attended and graduated from Women’s College Hospital, with her Nursing Degree in 1966. Shirley worked in pediatric care at South Peel Hospital in Toronto. She and her brother Danny moved to Greenville, Illinois in 1967 to attend Greenville College and Shirley worked as a Registered Nurse at Utlaut Memorial Hospital from 1967 till 1975.

Shirley and William E. Donnell were united in marriage on September 12, 1968, in the Kingsview Free Methodist Church. This is one of the churches her father started and where Shirley grew up. They have enjoyed 58 years of marriage. Shirley was a stay-at-home mom raising 3 children. She started volunteering at the Greenville Elementary School in 1990 and eventually working full time as a para-professional until 2010.

Shirley always had a love for children: working in Pediatrics, adopting 3 children, and teaching Sunday school to kids for almost 30 years at the Free Methodist Church. She also volunteered for years at the Hospital Axillary and worked the hospital bizarre for most of those years. Shirley loved the Lord and serving and caring for others. She made rounds regularly at the Glenwood and nursing home to visit her friends and pray with many.

Shirley is survived by her husband Bill, children Heather Donnell of Los Angeles and husband Christopher, son John Donnell of Greenville, and son Paul Donnell of Washington, DC and wife Audrey. Loving grandmother to Fiona Donnell and Philip Donnell.

Shirley is also survived by a brother Robert Dargan of Greenville and wife Althea, nieces and nephews: Sherilyn and Judge Scott McPherson, Debbie and Doug Anderson, Andrew and AnnMarie Dargan, Stephanie Dargan, Dr. Geoffery Dargan, Jonathan Dargan, and host of great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews, and dear friends like family to Shirley.

Preceded in death by her other two brothers Dr. Javan “Jay" Dargan (Margaret Dargan surviving), Danny Dargan in 1981 (Beth White surviving and husband David), and Julianne Dargan her niece. 

Donnell-Wiegand Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Only condolences or memories may be shared online www.donnellwiegand.com.