Donna-Marie Gilligan-Arendt, of Kenosha, died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Friday, December 17, 2010. Donna, 61, fought cancer for almost a decade.A devoted mother and wife, she was an attorney specializing in family law in Kenosha for 20 years. She graduated Marymount Manhattan College in 1971 after studying a year in London and traveling Europe. She earned her law degree from Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., in 1975. Before opening her own practice in 2003, Donna was the managing attorney for Legal Action of Wisconsin, helping low-income people in Kenosha, Racine and Walworth counties. Previously, she worked for UAW Legal Services in Janesville, the national Socialist Workers Party, and began her career in New York City as an associate with Schupak, Rosenfeld & Fischbein.Donna was dedicated to helping others through her service on several committees at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, and by running the parish summer festival’s auction for nearly a decade. In addition to being a soccer mom for many years, she had led two Girl Scout troops, was active in the PTA, and served on a school board committee.She was born on August 11, 1949, to Joseph B. and Lillian Lovett Gilligan of Queens, N.Y., who predeceased her. She assisted her father in his retirement when he moved from Long Island to Kenosha.Donna was an adopted Badger, whose husband and children all graduated from UW-Madison. Donna loved to travel with her family.She is survived by her husband, Gary Arendt, their three children: Brian, of Seattle, Wash.; Kelly, of Minneapolis, Minn.; and Megan, of Washington, D.C.; one brother, Larry Gilligan, of Brooklyn, N.Y., two sisters, Dr. Diana Gilligan, of Manlius, N.Y., and Eileen Gilligan (Brad Gorham), of Baldwinsville, N.Y., and an extended Arendt family clan.Visitation will be 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, December 19, at Proko Funeral Home, Kenosha. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, December 20, at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, 7117-14th Ave., Kenosha. Burial will be 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 21, at St. George Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Women’s and Children’s Horizons, Inc., 2525-63rd St., Kenosha, WI 53143.Proko Funeral Home5111-60th Street (262)654-3533Visit Donna’s Online Memorial Book At:www.prokofuneralhome.com