Donna E. Clifford

Donna E. Clifford, age 76, of Woburn (formerly of Medford) passed away on November 25, 2024, at her home in Woburn after a lengthy battle with cancer. She was the spouse/beloved life partner of the late Rev. Dr. Dorothy Emerson.

Donna was born in Stoughton, MA on December 22, 1947. She was the daughter of the late Ward and Barbara (Batchelder) Clifford. She graduated from Stoughton High School in 1965 and received a B.A. in Philosophy from UMass Amherst in 1970. Donna was a long-time member of the Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church in Melrose, MA. She was very active in many UU organizations over the years.

Donna and Dorothy shared over 30 happy years together and were legally married in June 2004. They traveled to many places before Dorothy’s sudden passing in May 2019.

Donna worked as a professional financial advisor specializing in socially responsible investments at the company she founded, Rainbow Investment Solutions. She was affiliated with many organizations, including Zonta Club of Medford, Medford Arts Council, NAACP, MUUA and many others.

Donna loved to travel, especially to Provincetown, MA, Sedona, AZ and Hawaii. She recently enjoyed a wonderful trip to Italy. Her hobbies included photography, hiking, writing poetry, music, reading and art. She loved spending time with her family and many friends and was loved dearly by everyone she met.

Donna is survived by her son, Damian Elrod and his wife Susan of Michigan, as well as her grandson, Zade Elrod of Michigan. She is also survived by her siblings, Judy Barrette of Norton, MA; Diane and husband Rich L. Rodriguez of Santa Barbara, CA; Janet and husband John Fahey of Stoughton, MA; Joan and husband Peter Ouellet of Mashpee, MA; Ward and wife Kristina Clifford of Hull, MA; and Sherri and husband Kevin Stone of Bourne, MA, as well as many nieces, nephews, uncle and aunt, cousins, dear friends and colleagues and members of Dorothy’s family who loved her very much. Besides her wife and parents, she was predeceased by her brother-in-law, Robert Barrette.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. on January 18, 2025, at the Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church, followed by a luncheon at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either:

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at BIDMC.org; or 

Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church (please make checks payable to Melrose Unitarian Universalist Church with “in honor of Donna Clifford” on the memo line, and mail to 70 West Emerson Street, Melrose, MA 02176).