Annetta Donnelly

Annetta E. Donnelly (Stephens) passed away Saturday, February 17th, 2024, in the presence of her loving family. She was born July 22nd, 1941, to Carl and Martha Stephens in Wichita, Kansas.

She was raised in a large family, where she was the middle child of eleven children. Annetta was born at home in the middle of the summer. The family did not have much but together they had a lot of love, pride, and strength with strong family values. God was at the forefront of the family where they were taught to lean on Christ through their struggles, and together they built a legacy full of strong passionate people.

Following graduation from West High School, Wichita, KS in 1959, she entered beauty school where she became a cosmetologist. She was extraordinary in her career serving as the hairdresser to prominent people here in Wichita. She believed and instilled in her children, “whatever you do, do in excellence.”

She married Jerry Donnelly on May 27th, 1961, and together they built a beautiful life with four children. Their life together began here in Wichita and then took them to California, Colorado, and Nebraska. They returned to their roots here in Wichita in 1975, to be close to family.

Annetta had an artistic gift. She loved deeply, and was exceedingly generous, she would give the shirt off her back to anyone in need. She had an uncanny way of connecting with people and making them feel comfortable and welcome. She loved many activities such as gardening, crocheting, reading, and especially traveling. What she cherished and loved the most was being a wife, mother of four, grandmother of ten and great grandmother of ten. Annetta came from a big, beautiful family and together her and Jerry continued the legacy and built a large, beautiful family of their own.

She was proceeded in death by her husband Jerry Donnelly, father, and mother Carl and Martha Stephens, brothers William Hazlett, Eugene Hazlett, Terry Stephens, and Loren Stephens, and sister Shirley Strunk.

She is survived by son, John Curtis (Summer), daughters, Denise (Bradley) Mills, Michelle (Curtis) Cuda and Lisa (Brian) Schawe; grandchildren Whitney, Bryce, Courteney, Ashley, Cameron (CJ), Cory, Caleb, Hayley, Brett, Katelyn, and ten great grandchildren; brothers Henry, Richard, and Byron Stephens , sisters Carlotta Collins and Maryon Taylor.

Viewing is 6:00-8:00 pm Thursday February 22nd at Culbertson-Smith Mortuary, 115 South Seneca, Wichita KS 67213. Service is 1:00 pm Friday at University Friends Church, 1840 W. University, Wichita KS 67213. Memorials may be given to the American Heart Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas TX 75284-0692, and/or Kansas Human Society, 3313 N. Hillside St. Wichita KS 67219.