Donna Louise Porter (nee Arnold/Street)

Donna was born in Edmonton, Alberta, and grew up in Calgary. She raised her family in Chilliwack then moved to Victoria.  She died peacefully on her 81st birthday, with her daughter by her side.

She is survived by her daughter Shannon Arnold Beriker (stepchildren Emir and Leyla Beriker); sister Judith Walker (children Caylie Verity and Adam Mashinter); brother Doug Street (wife Val and children Robb Street and Tara Noullett); Cousin Trudy McMurdo; and Shannon’s mother-in-law Neshan Beriker. Predeceased by her daughter Sheena Arnold, her parents Vern and Trudy Street, biological father Donald Porter, Shannon’s husband Levend Beriker, and the father of her children, Paul Arnold.

Donna’s career was one of reinvention and service. She worked as a psychiatric nurse in Chilliwack for over 20 years before training in floral design. In her forties, she returned to university, embarking on a second career in Child and Youth Care, specializing in eating disorder support—a field she was deeply passionate about.

She had a spirit for travel and adventure: exploring New Zealand by motorhome with Paul, crisscrossing Europe, visiting Greece, journeying to Machu Picchu, returning to Turkey many times while Shannon lived there, and sharing an unforgettable trip to Egypt. She visited Sheena in Hawaii, enjoyed Mexican getaways with her best friend Trudy Mayer, and never missed an opportunity for an adventure.

Like her mother, she loved antique hunting and curated a lifetime of cherished treasures. For much of her life, she and her sister Judy were best friends and shared a creative bond, enjoying countless craft projects, especially iris folding and cross-stitch. She had a special connection to her grandmother, Emma Schell, and in later years reconnected with Cousin Trudy McMurdo, sharing visits and treasured phone conversations.

The outdoors was her happy place. Donna hiked, camped, and embarked on ambitious cycling trips with her young family, long before it was popular to do so. From the Gulf Islands to Nova Scotia, the Banff–Jasper Highway to a month cycling through Europe, she was a strong, determined mother, proud of tackling challenges like the West Coast Trail and Cape Scott. Family ski trips to Big White and Snowater, houseboating, and camping adventures with close family friends created a lifetime of memories.  Donna and Paul had had waterfront property on Gabriola and built a small cabin where Donna loved to spend time.

Another one of Donna’s great loves was music. She played piano for many years completing her Royal Conservatory grade eight. She loved listening to Leonard Cohen, Van Morrison and old hits from the 50’s, but Louis Armstrong was her favourite!  One memory she always shared with a smile was a family trip with her brother Doug and her parents down to New Orleans. They went to Preservation Hall, she had her first mint julep and they chased fireflies all night.

Her love of beauty extended to gardens and flowers. She held annual passes to Butchart Gardens and loved the Abkahi gardens and the gardens at HCP.  In her final chapter, when she could no longer get out to those places, Shannon made sure her house was filled with fresh bouquets every week and transformed Donna’s patio into a magical garden oasis for her to sit out on and enjoy, including special fairy lights to enchant her at night.

Donna enjoyed simple pleasures: walking through Beacon Hill Park, drives along the ocean, ice cream at the Beacon Drive-In, and watching “Escape to the Country”, “Hope for Wildlife” and nature programs on TV. Always stylish, she took pride in dressing beautifully and decorating her spaces with care—right down to packing candles, placemats, and vases for holidays and camping trips.

Donna had a deep spiritual side and a lifelong commitment to personal growth. Long before it was mainstream, she embraced yoga, meditation, counselling, self-help books, journaling, and retreats—always seeking to understand herself and the world more fully. She attended workshops, Goddess weekends, EST training, and found lasting connection through her Sterling Women’s Weekend and women’s group. A highlight was traveling with her friend Sandra to the Deepak Chopra Centre. She was a powerful role model for her daughters in this way, and she and Shannon shared the special experience of attending several meditation retreats together.

Above all, Donna was an extraordinary mother. She loved her daughters through every joy and challenge with patience and unwavering support. She poured that same devotion into her beloved cat Rosie, who might be one of the most spoiled cats in all of Victoria. Rosie continues to be loved and cared for by daughter Shannon but misses her mama dearly.

After many years of struggling with health issues, hospitalizations and living in chronic pain, Donna made the difficult and extremely brave decision to travel onto a more peaceful place with the help of MAID. She will be greatly missed and loved dearly forever.

In Donna’s memory, instead of flowers or donations, please buy a bouquet for a friend or loved one—just as she would have wanted.

A celebration of Donna’s life will be held at HCP Gardens Pavilion, 505 Quayle Road, Victoria BC on Sunday, September 14th, 2025, at 2:00-4:00pm for wine, appetizers & remembering. This will be a relaxed event, and guests may enjoy the garden before the gathering. Comfortable shoes and garden-friendly clothing are encouraged. Please RSVP Shannon by phone or email to:shanturkey@hotmail.com, if you wish to attend.

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com

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