Chelsea Rebecca Donelson

She is survived by her parents, Fred and Brenda Donelson of Gahanna, Ohio; her sisters Lindsey (Kyle) Mills of Indianapolis, Indiana and Ashley (Matthijs) Veldhuyzen of Rotterdam, The Netherlands; her nephew (Tristen Veldhuyzen) and niece (Olivia Veldhuyzen); her maternal grandmother Rose Yotpolis of Clymer, New York; her aunt Joni Yotpolis (Ted Glatz) of Clymer, New York; and cousins Nicholas and Danielle Yotpolis of Clymer, New York.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Loye and Ireta Donelson of Sherman, New York, and her maternal grandfather Paul Yotpolis of Clymer, N.Y.

Chelsea graduated from Gahanna Lincoln High School in 2009 and earned a BSN from the Francis Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University. Chelsea had a deep love of children, and worked as a NICU nurse at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus for the past 5 years, where she impacted many lives.

Chelsea lived out her faith and love for God on a daily basis. She was an active member of Five14 Church in New Albany, participating in small groups and helping in children’s ministries. Her infectious smile and sweet spirit deeply touched all with whom she came in contact.

Chelsea loved musical theater, both as an audience member and a performer. She was well known for her on stage work in the Gahanna Lincoln High School drama department and the GLHS high school Chorale, the Footlighters at Case Western Reserve University, and the many musical productions of Gahanna Community Theatre.

Family traditions were a very important part of Chelsea’s life. Fall activities, Thanksgiving at her grandparent’s farm, reading the Christmas story from the family Bible before gift exchanges, doing the annual “duck walk” at Blendon Woods on Christmas Eve, watching “White Christmas”, and the annual New Year’s Eve “Candy Land” game were just a few of her favorites.

She also found great joy as a member of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Visiting the Zoo with her was like having your own private tour guide. One of her last outings with family was a behind the scenes tour of the Zoo, which gave her great joy.

Family was an essential part of Chelsea’s life and extremely important to her. Besides all the previously mentioned traditional activities with family, she often spent just normal times enjoying the presence of family. She loved sitting by the fire on a long winter evening as her dad read books out loud to the family, and she enjoyed reading to her niece and nephew, and taking them to the Zoo. Visiting the farm in New York every chance she had, playing games, riding horses, visiting the barns while spending time with her grandparents, aunt and cousins truly had a special place in her heart. Singing with her sister Lindsey and traveling with her sister Ashley continued the bonds of sisterhood into her adult life. Although Covid has been such a horrid time for most, it allowed Chelsea to spend most of the last 8 months with her mom. From cooking together, shopping for a room make over, to walks and eventually wheelchair rides in the park, to sitting by the fire, the bond between mother and daughter grew exponentially in these last months. She cherished her mom and that close relationship bloomed into wonderful times and memories, ones that will never be forgotten.

Chelsea ended her three year battle with cancer peaceably at home with her family. She fought bravely and courageously, retaining her sweet spirit throughout many difficult days. She will be GREATLY missed by her family and friends. But we rejoice, knowing that “It is Well With Her Soul” and she is now in the presence of the Savior, pain free, and singing praises to Him.

There will be a livestream of the Celebration of Life on Chelsea Donelson’s Facebook page beginning at 1 p.m.