Melva J. Donovall

Melva J. Donovall passed away peacefully on April 2, 2026 surrounded by her family.

Melva was a strong, independent woman who loved her family. She worked as a secretary in her early years and later became an entrepreneur. She owned several businesses and worked well into her 80’s, but she always felt her most important job was Mother, Grandmother and wife to the love of her life, Neal.

When she married Neal in 1986, she affectionately called him her “prince” because he was so good to a woman with four teenage children. He soon became “Dad” to those four kids, and they built a life of love and laughter for the next 40 years.

Melva had 4 children: Chrissie (Thad) Moehring, Robin (Jeff) Pompe, Matthew Braheem, and Michael Braheem, and a special bonus daughter, Tracey Orgovan, as well as grandchildren Elizabeth (John) Pompe, Alex (Ethan) Pompe, Baylee Kushner and special bonus granddaughter Olivia (Shane) Orgovan. Her family was her whole world.

She is survived also by her sister Marcy Hayden, Niece Paula (Ron) Ragan (children Jessica, Cameron, Connor, Jenna, Jayden) and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years Neal Donovall, her son Michael Braheem, parents Mary and Joseph Yakovich, and nephew George Hayden

We know that Melva would have wanted us to thank the amazing staff from Presbyterian Senior Care at Southmount. The care and compassion from the staff overwhelmed and comforted all of us and in lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in her memory to them and dent to 835 S. Main Street, Washington, PA 15301.

Family and friends will be received from 2:00-8:00 p.m. on Monday April 6, 2026 in Slater Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc., 73 Highland Avenue, Burgettstown, PA 15021 where services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday April 7, 2026. She will be laid to rest in the Mt. Prospect Cemetery, Hickory.