Donna Ando Lieberman, z”l, passed away peacefully at home in the early morning hours of June 24, 2026, at age 76, after more than two years of treatment for cancer. In her final weeks, she was surrounded by family and friends.

Donna was born at the U.S. Army Hospital in Kyoto, Japan, while her father was stationed there as a career military officer. The family moved frequently, with stops in Denver, Seattle and Baltimore before eventually settling in the Washington, D.C., area. She graduated from high school in Alexandria, Va., in 1967. She attended the University of Michigan (1967-1971), where she met David; they married in Ann Arbor, Mich. in 1974. She earned her Master’s in Social Work from the University of Michigan in 1975.

Donna and David moved to Portland, Oregon, in 1976 and built a life rooted in community. She worked as a social worker for Oregon Children’s Services Division and later dedicated many years volunteering for local organizations such as William Temple House and Portland Impact. She also taught preschool at Congregation Beth Israel for 17 years.

A lifelong learner, Donna was an avid reader who approached the world with curiosity. After years of study, she converted to Judaism in 1994 and remained deeply engaged in Jewish learning and community. She cherished her weekly book group discussions.

Donna found joy in music, art, and culture, singing with several community choirs over the years, including the Conchords Chorale, Aurora Chorus, and Sage Singers. For more than 30 years, she practiced the traditional Japanese art of Ikebana, eventually becoming a Master in the Ryūsei-ha school. She approached flower arranging with the same patience, thoughtfulness, and quiet artistry that characterized so much of her life.

She was a gentle, caring presence, which made anyone feel comfortable and at ease. She was a caregiver on many levels, most evident in her role as a mother. Donna poured love, creativity and resourcefulness into her family through countless everyday acts.

In her final years, she found peace in weekly visits to the Portland Japanese Garden with David and her granddaughter.

She is survived by her husband, David; her children, Myrrh Larsen, Jude Lieberman, and Debbie Lieberman; her granddaughter, Joliene Murico; her son-in-law, Zach Putnam; and her siblings, Roxanne Ando, Robert Ando, and Vera Ando-Winstead.

Burial took place at Riverview Cemetery on June 26, 2026. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Portland Japanese Garden or Aurora Chorus.