Elana Donde

elana donde

November 23, 1973 ~ May 22, 2024


Resided in: White House, Tennessee

Elana Donde, age 50, passed away peacefully on May 22, 2024, while surrounded by her loved ones in White House, TN.

Elana was born in Kiev, Ukraine and raised in Brooklyn, New York. After she obtained her baccalaureate degree she was required to put her plans on hold. As a single mother with two daughters, her focus became working to support her family and raising her daughters. Twenty years later, she moved to Tennessee and enrolled at the Nashville School of Law (NSL) with aspirations to obtain a degree to practice animal law. She was well on her way to earning her law degree when she was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in 2022. This subsequently required she suspend her studies when her illness progressed. Elana’s steadfast work ethic and exceptionally authentic personality has an enduring impact on others. In light of this, and her tenacity of battling ALS while in law school, a memorial scholarship was created in her honor at NSL. Elana’s greatest joys are her family, all animals, and selflessly serving others through laughter and love.

She is preceded in death by her sister, Nellie Donde; her grandparents, Ida and Efim Epshteyn; and her dogs, Oreo, Cookie, and Buddy Donde.

Elana is survived by her daughters, Samantha (25) and Alexandra (21) Donde; her parents, Lyubov and Boris Donde; and her dogs, Cocoa, Gizmo, Daisy, and Gracie Donde.

A private celebration of life service is planned for the family. Any written cards or letters containing words of encouragement, special memories with Elana, and ways in which Elana made an exceptional impact in the life of another(s) are invited to be sent to her daughters as they grievingly reflect and continue working to carry on her legacy.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial contributions be made to an ALS organization that has provided support to the family [The ALS Association (www.als.org), Racing for ALS (www.racingforals.com), and The Gleason Foundation (www.teamgleason.org), among others]. Additional memorial contributions are requested to be made to RescueVet in Memphis (Paypal: rescuevetmemphis@gmail.com / Venmo @rescuevetinc), a nonprofit animal rescue that has been supported by a dear friend of Elana’s, in her honor.

Arrangements in the care of Compassion Funeral & Cremation Services, Nashville, TN (615) 857-9955. We proudly remain locally owned & operated.

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  1. hope you’re at peace, Elana<3 You were so loved and cared for. If love could’ve saved you, you’d live forever. Samantha & Alex, I’m thinking of you and wishing you healing and strength through this rough time. Love you both SO much.

  2. So glad you are ALS-free and at peace, Elana. The way you are being grieved and missed shows just how much love so many hold for you. Such a beautiful impact was left on this world from such a beautiful soul. Keeping the Donde family in my heart, always.

  3. A commitment made for a mother
    and a promise made for a daughter
    I protected her when you couldn’t
    now you can and I know you will
    I gave my word to you i’d be there
    my promise fulfilled I hand it to you

    Dear Elana,
    The time I spent with your family will forever leave an impression on my heart. You deserve peace and I know you’ve found it. You will live on in your daughter’s memories, dreams, and hearts.

    With love – Niko

    • My memories of Elana were of a fierce and loving mother who would do anything for her girls. Her cheers for them on the soccer field were second to none. She was so so proud and loved watching them play and excel in everything they did – their biggest fan. She knew how to throw parties for them and truly gave everything she had to her children They were her world. Her smile will leave a lasting impact in my memory as it could light up the darkest room. She was a beautiful woman inside and out.

  4. I’m sorry our family had so much hate towards each other. I wish it would have been different. The memories I have of you, I will cherish. I hope you are at peace and not in any pain. ❤️

  5. So sorry to read this. I only knew her in passing but she seemed like a great lady. My condolences 🙏

  6. Elana was a dear friend of mine in our high school years. We were both struggling to find our way to graduate and were assigned to the Intergenerational Workstudy program. We were at the Harama Senior Center in the afternoons and became friends. I remember her being so funny and feisty. She had me over to meet her parents and sister and taught me to say (Dasvidaniya). I remember the long bus ride to their apt and hanging out playing with clothing looks and sharing our hardships and our ambitions. I know she surpassed her wildest dreams in education and in having her dear daughters. I’m so sorry for your family’s loss. I wish her eternal peace and that memories for all lives she touched are eternal. I will never forget Elana.


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