Donna Ann Gama

I miss you my beautiful cousin. So much has happened since you've gone and I know you looking down and giving me the strength I didn't think I had to endure the things that life has brought my way. You are an example to all of us on how to live with dignity and courage. Thank you always love your cousin Justine

Happy Birthday in heaven my sweet cousin,

I miss talking with you, you are such an upbeat person and see the good in every life's lesson. I know you are there with all the people that I love and who have gone to heaven. You know I am sure what I am going thru. Every time I think I can't go on I ask you to send me some of your strength and you must because I am able to face another day. I can't give you a birthday gift, but you give me one every day...your inspiration for how to live with what comes your way. I pray for you and I know that you pray for me as well. Love and miss you always,
Justine

Dear Donna,

I can't believe that another year has come and gone and you are not with us on this earthly plain. I do know that you watch over us though I can feel you, a wisper of encouragement when I feel depaire, a soft and loving hug when I feel alone...just like the butterflies you were so fond of in life. I am wishing you a wonderful birthday in heaven...free of your earthly chains. I am sure all who you love who have gone before are there with you! I think of them al and often. I'll blow out a special candle for you as I miss you on this day especially. I know that you are at peace...please bring peace to all thoe you love who are still on earth. Your loving cousin...Justine

Dear Donna,

I wrote you a letter yesterday, but it didn't take. I know that you heard my words anyway. I just wanted to say how much I miss seeing you and speaking with you. I miss our little secrets and laughs that we shared. I see you everyday because so many things remind me of you...like eggs...I know you know what I mean. My tears of sadness have been replaced by many smiles when I recall things we shared. Some people may feel loss because they can't see you or talk to you, but I still talk to you and feel your love everyday..this brings me a peace and comfort. Whenever life gets tough I think of your strength and grace in dealing with the burdens you were given. You always amazed me. I try to push forward without complaint, and I learned that from you. I'll always continue to have my "little" talks with you, and you will always remain in my prayers...please keep me in yours. I love you!

Justine

October 6, 2011
We do not need a special day to bring you to our minds The days we do not think of you are very hard to find
Each morning when we awake we know that you are gone and no one knows our heartache as we try to carry on
Our hearts still ache with sadness and secret tears still flow
what it meant to loose you no one will ever know
Our thoughts are always with you, your place no one can ever fill
In life we loved you dearly, in death we love you still
There will always be a heartache and often a silent tear
But always a precious memory of the days when you were here
If tears could make a staircase, and heartaches make a lane
We'd walk the path to heaven and bring you home again
We hold yo close within our hearts and there you will remain
To walk with us throught our lives, until we meet again
Our family chain is broken now and nothin seems the same
But as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again.

We miss you and love you. We know that you are celebrating in heaven in a more glorious way than we can imagine. We hold on to the imagine of the heavenly party you will have and know that although not as glorious we celebrate your life on your birthday with tears and laughter and memories that will always remain. Happy Birthday dear cousin.
Love,
Justine and Paul

I woke up this morning so glad to be celebrating my anniversary with Paul, and yet I felt a void. You were not there to share my joy. Not seeing you has been so hard. I talk with you everyday and this morning I saw a beautiful monarch butterfly and I knew you heard me. You truly were like a butterfly, so beautiful adding beauty to this life wherever you went, but like a butterfly your life was fleating. I know that now you are free and peaceful and are always watching and helping your family. I miss you more than words could say, but I know that you are not really far away. Be at peace my wonderful cousin.
Love, Justine

My deepest sympathy to you and your family. During this sorrowful time reflect upon all the joy you shared with Donna. God bless you and your family. I am praying for you and Donna.

Donna will always be greatly missed.
To this day we remember how joyful she always was.
Donna was a shining example of the BEST humanity should be.
Her smile lives within us....and we are better men because of that.
We miss you,
Henry+Joel

Memorial Mass for Donna, Saturday, Ocotber 2, 2010. Daniel Nastro
Addition to Eulogy

Therese, I want to expressly acknowledge how much your love, your devotion, your dedication sustained Donna’s journey on earth. You enabled her to navigate the rough storms of the various maladies, affliction and difficulties thrust upon her.
You brought such joy and comfort to her. You are the shining exemplar of mother love.

Barbara – Donna could not have had a better sister. Seeing you in the hospital holding her hand, caressing her hair and speaking softly to her only hinted at the depth of your love and how much you cherished her.

I want to acknowledge how blessed I am to be part of a family that loves- and demonstrates it.

Charlie and Maggie you hosted Donna’s 50th birthday and gave her a weekend she would never forget, you even got braille cards so that she could participate in the poker tournament that she loved and in which she was a winner.

Tom and Mary Ann, you were always there for her. I remember the vigils at the various hospitals and your telephone calls to me about how she was doing. Your concerns eloquently bespoke your love and affection.

Donna’s cousins Mark, Dina and their spouses Sharon and George; Caroline, Brian, Joe, Hillary, Elizabeth and Kathy-you reflect wistfully and with certainty upon how much each of you brightened her life.

Bill, just a simple heartfelt thank you for being such an integral part of our family, for being such a pillar of support for Barbara and Therese.

To each of Donna’s friends who loved and cherished her, Thank you.

God Bless us all.

Happy Birthday Donna,

This is your 1st Birthday in Heaven, but you won't be celebrating it alone. Your Mother, Sister, your Aunts and Uncles and Cousins will be celebrating it with you. It won't be the usual celebration that we all are accusstomed to, with cake and ice cream and presents. It will instead be filled with memories and the joys we have shared. We will all give thanks that we were chosen to be a part of your life. We will all be celebrating that you are now with the angels, having the time of your life, and doing whatever it si that you wish to do. Knowing that makes us all very happy. So you see Donna, you won't be celebrating alone. Through our weary minds and tired souls, we will always remember and miss you. When the family circle is back together, then we will celebrate the way we know it. Happy Birthday!!

Love,

Justine

Donna,

Today is your birthday and I can't stop thinking about you and all the wonderful times we shared throughout the years. I miss you so much and I miss talking to you everyday. Your brought me so much happiness in my life and you were always there for me. You are with me everyday and I know that you are watching over me. I hope you loved the celebration of life we gave for you. I wanted it to be the most wonderful tribute to you, the best sister in the world. We released the butterflies in your honor and we will plant the forget me nots in your name. Please watch over mommy and give her the strength she needs as she copes with the most difficult changes in her life. Please give me the strength to heal my broken heart as I am so selfish and I want you here and I want to hear you talk to me and laugh with me. I love you honey. Make me a channel of your peace. Love...Barbara

Sept.30 2010

Dear Therese & Family,
My sister Ellen had told me Donna had passed away. I felt so very sad for you and your family. From what I read about Donna she was a sweetheart and a wonderful woman,pretty,smart and oh so kind to all...and that is amazing..for all she had to carry.But she had a loving family..and that means so very much..I am so glad we came to visit you and Donna..I remember her as a child and boy did she grow to be a beautiful woman..she was so proud of her apartment in Ft. Lauderdale...after dinner she took us down to her place..it was absolutely delightful..she was so happy to show us her place..and of course..dinner was great..it was so nice to sit down with the both of them and talk old times..about growing up in Bay Ridge..and when Therese gave birth to Donna she was so very happy..Donna accomplished so much in her life and her mother will truly miss her..But Therese just look up at the brightest star in the sky..THAT'S DONNA TELLING YOU HOW MUCH SHE LOVES YOU!
God Bless you and your family..I will keep you all in my prayers..
Love your friend
Estelle & Anthony Marsicano

I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)
I am never without it (anywhere I go you go, my dear; and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)
I fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet)
I want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
And it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant and whatever a sun will always sing is you
Here is the deepest secret nobody knows
Here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
And the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide
And this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart
I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart)

Barbara and family, my thoughts are with you during this time. After looking at the family pictures and reading about her she sounds like a very special person. Barbara,I also remember the stories you would share with me about her. You should be proud to have a sister so loving and caring as she was! My prayers are with you and your family!

Dear Barbara and family,
My thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies are with you during this difficult time. Although I didn't know Donna, I feel somewhat cheated that I didn't. In reading the beautiful things about her, it is obvious that she was a courageous woman that had a zest for life given the difficult challenges she had to deal with. I know she is with God now, and I know she will be missed. I also know what you are feeling and as you said to me, I am always here for you if you need to talk or cry or whatever. God bless Donna, you and your family.

Terry, Barbara and family, we were so sorry to hear about Donna. She was an amazing person and will be missed very much. She always be in our thoughts and prayers along with you and the family...Carol and Kenny (Fords, N.J.)

Barbara,

Our heartfelt condolences go out to you and your family. Donna was a very strong & special person. She will be missed but never forgotten as she will always be in your heart.

Dear Sweet Donna,

Thank you for walking through my life. It is truly a privilege to have known such a gentle, loving spirit as yourself. You saw the best in each of us, never judging. You lived your life with great courage and determination, overcoming your most difficult challenges, going on with dignity and grace. You were sent to us, I am sure, and suffered through your trials and tribulations, to be an example to us as how best to face life, what we could aspire to being. You truly were and continue to be a light and inspiration to each of us.
Perhaps the Powers that Be felt you did what you could for us and it was time for you to be freed from the shackles of this earth plane and be with kindred spirits.
And so we are very saddened at your leaving, but happy for you that now you are healed and whole once again.
You will always be with us in spirit, Donna, because as your Mom reminds me of what Richard Back wrote, -- There is no such place as far away --; and to me, Donna, you will always be the much needed -- Wind Beneath my Wings.
Lovingly, Patricia Jacobsen

Dear Terri, Barbara and Family,
We will always remember Donna as one of the strongest,kindest,caring people in our lives.
May God bless her and your family and may you find comfort in remembering her strength and love of life.

I have so many fond memories of Donna. My first memory is the first time I saw her. I was 8 and she was a brand new baby. I wanted to hold her so badly, but she was so delicate that everyone thought it was a bad idea. I remember visiting Uncle Joe and Aunt Irene and Uncle Joe giving Donna her shots, I would look away because I wasn't brave enough to watch. Donna never looked away, never cried and never let it interfer with her going back to her playtime. I remember Donna and Barbara all dressed in pink for my wedding. They were so cute as Jr. Bridesmaids. After I moved to the country Donna and Barbara would come and stay a few weeks in the summer. At that time we had chickens and when I told Donna she would have to get the eggs for breakfast she went outside and retrived the eggs from under the chickens, what a trooper! As time went on I lost my way and we lost touch. When we reconnected it was as if no time had passed. We enjoyed our closeness once again. We reminissed about the crazy haircuts that my Mother would give Donna and Barbara...we would laugh...and Donna's laugh and smile were truly infectous. Evertime we would get together we would make plans to do something. We were waiting for Jersey Boys to come to Ft. Lauderdale so we could go see the show. Donna's enthusiasum for life and all it had to offer was really incredible. I know that she did not always feel very well, but that wasn't going to stop her from life. She enjoyed her apartment and the wonderful times she shared with Therese and family and friends. Donna's spirit makes me want to be a better person and always go for it, as she did. I miss what we shared, but I miss what we were to share even more. Donna will always be a part of my heart and I will never forget her heart. It gave without question, without anything in return...a lesson to be learned by all. Donna was and will always be a teacher to those lives she touched. I know she is watching over us all. May God bless her and all those she loved......Justine

Sending you our loving prayers and thoughts as we celebrate the heart and spirit of one amazing woman. Her love lives on in the lives and hearts of all who had the great blessing of sharing in her journey. Ronald Nastro and Kali Ray Torres

Dear Therese, Barbara and all the members of her family,

It is with deep sorrow that we have learned that Donna has passed away. She was truly a wonderful person, capable of
strength, and always with a smile, with adversities that life had put in her path, and yet we know that her life was a happy one, because of the love and support of her family and friends.

We will always remember her.

Love,

Domenico, Diana and Linda

Barbara - we are so sorry to hear of your loss. Although we did not know Donna she sounds like a very strong person with so much courage and euthsiasm and love for her family.

I know that she will always be there in your thoughts and looking over you.



Bob & Terry Paciencia

Our prayers are with you in this time of sorrow. Donna was such a sweet lady.
Mia-Marie loved the visits with you and Donna and did we.
You are a beautiful person and brought up a wonderful andgel Donna.
Always Ken and Ellen Fine

Barbara & Bill,

My heartfelt condolences go out to you and your family. May the love and light that surrounds you, help you find peace during this time of loss.

Dear Barbara and Bill,

May you take comfort in knowing an Angel is watching over you.

Dear Terri and Barb,

As I reflect on my relationship with Donna, I will be eternally grateful for the time I was able to spend with her. I was always happy when she called me on a Friday and we would go to dinner, do a few errands and just spend time together. She was always so grateful as if I was doing her favor, not seeming to realize what a blessing it was for me to be in her company. We had so much fun together! We would start laughing until tears were rolling down our cheeks. I missed those dinners after she moved to Florida.

I know how much pain and suffering she went through each and every day, but she always had a smile, never complained, was always interested in everything and everyone outside herself. She was always an inspiration to me. I called her a "delicate flower" not only because of her physical state, but because she was so precious.

She is truly an inspiration to us all and she will continue to inspire me. My prayers are with you.

I am very grateful to Donna for bringing joy and goodness into the lives of the Nastro family. Among my very best memories from my teenage years, was the week that Donna and Therese visited after my father was sworn in to be a judge for the Superior Court of Az. I remember how much fun Donna was, and how she inspired us all to look within ourselves to find happiness and meaning in our own lives. Donna managed to make swimming and hanging out at the Royal Palm Hotel some of the best memories of my life. I owe I big thank you to Donna and Therese for touching my life in a way that nobody else could.

Rich Nastro

Aunt Therese and Donna, I will always treasure my beloved cousin for the many wonderful talks about diet, fashion, music, life, faith and mostly her inspiration for us all. She always believed the best in everyone and could only wish to be as strong as the amazing woman was. I will never forget and stop loving my beloved cousin. My Aunt Therese showed true Mother's love. You are all in my prayers.

Barbara and Bill - I wish I had the words to comfort and console you, but I am not sure they exist. Barbara - in the loving way you have talked about Donna all these years, I cannot imagine the loss you are feeling. Do not hesitate to grieve. Even Jesus wept when he went to his friend Lazarus' tomb. And Jesus knew that he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead! John 11.

Psalm 139:16 tells us:
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

I believe that God knew and loved Donna before she was even born. I believe that she has arrived in heaven. A place where there is no blindness or illness. No grieving. Only joy. My family's prayers are with you.

The true meaning of Donna,
You are a Divine woman, and I am honored to have hed the oppurtunuty to meet you,
You always opened your heart to everyone around you,
Never can I say did I ever hear you complain,
and your Non-ending faith in Jesus and the world surrounding you is awe inspiring,
I will Always love youand remember you.
Donna, you will be sorely missed and always will you be remembered.
Thanks to Barbara and Uncle Charlie we finally came up with the proper acronym for you. Bless you honey.

Bill

Therese - I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your daughter Donna. Although I only briefly met Donna, it was clear to see what a special person she was. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this very difficult time. You have a very special guardian angel watching over you now.

My sweet Donna - You may have been blind but you had the ability to see more clearly than most of us with sight. Your ability to see the beauty in everything and in everyone was such a gift and something I will always remember. Although you lived with pain you lived your life with passion, pride, and positive energy. You taught all those you touched that life is for living to the fullest and I can still hear you say "I LOVE IT"! You will always be my Moon Princess and I your Moon Prince and when I look to the night's sky I will see your smiling face shining down on me. I am better for knowing you....I Love You!

Dear Therese and Barbara
May God bless you both with peace of mind to know that He called His daughter home to be in her eternal state of full health and happiness. 1Thessalonians 4:17-18 Thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, console one another with these words. God Bless You, Donna - I Love You, Lorraine

Eulogy for Donna’s Mass- Barbara Moran (Saturday, August 28, 2010)

My mother and I would like to thank all of you for being here in this difficult time to share in the memory of our beautiful, wonderful Donna. We will miss her so much, and we loved her with all of our hearts. The truth is everyone loved her, how could you not? She was an inspiration to everyone that came into her life and she believed that everyone came into her life for a reason.

When you think about Donna, remember her as a person who lived life fully everyday and who loved life with so much passion and joy. She wanted to know everything; she wanted the details of every little thing so that she could picture it in her mind. She wanted to understand and be involved in everything that was going on around her. She asked so many questions. She always asked about every person and how they were doing and she would remember every conversation and ask about it. She would remember every person and ask about them. Sometimes we can’t remember someone’s name when we see their face, not Donna, she would remember names by just hearing someone’s voice. She made people feel important.

She taught me so many lessons in life that I try to follow but sometimes I forget. For example, she could never judge a person by their appearance because she saw with her heart, she knew when people were genuine. She accepted anyone into her life and showed kindness and consideration. She truly cared about people and there was no pretense. She saw the beauty in everyone.

She never wanted sympathy; she just wanted friendship, love and happiness. People would say it would have been better to be born blind, her answer would be, no, how would I know what water looked like, what color is, what my mother and my sister looked like. Every day we talked on the phone and she would tell me how beautiful I was and that I always looked beautiful. That is what she saw in me and she let me know that every day. She would always ask me what I was wearing and when I told her she would say, you must look so beautiful. She was the beautiful one both inside and out. She always took pride in the clothes that she wore, and she still put her make up on looking in the mirror.

She was a teacher, there is a saying when the student is ready the teacher appears. I pray that I am ready to learn from this teacher that has been one of the most important parts of my life and the most inspirational person I have ever known. Her cousin Caroline told me that when Donna first lost her sight, they were playing a game together and Caroline didn’t know how to act after Donna lost her sight. Caroline remembers that Donna joked with her about it so that Caroline was comfortable. She always put people at ease.

She found joy in the little things. The things that sometimes we take for granted, because we are so busy with our hurried life that we forget to stop and show gratitude. She loved to hear the birds singing, she loved the feel of the sunshine on her face, she loved to hear the laughter of children. She loved the sound of the ocean, she loved butterflies and when she was healthier she loved to work out. She was so disciplined with the things in her life. I remember when she worked she would lay out her clothes so carefully and prepare her lunch the night before. When I would sleep in her apartment in Bayonne, she would prepare my lunch also. She had her ritual that she would follow every day. She loved God and had so much faith. She prayed every morning for one hour and did the same at night. She would pray for all the people in her life and anyone that you told her about. She would make the sign of the cross every time she heard a fire truck or ambulance.

If you knew her, you probably heard her say more than once “I LOVE IT”. The littlest things in life made her happy. She loved just listening; she was the best listener that I ever knew. She didn’t interrupt, she made you feel loved and cared for and worthy of being heard! Donna, I promise I will try to be like you to talk less and to listen more.

She loved to laugh. She was so much fun and everyone loved spending time with her because she had such a great sense of humor. I never wanted to let her know when I was feeling down, but she would know by the sound of my voice if something was bothering me. She would tell me to think of the good things, she would remind me of funny stories like the time she fell off the bus in Brooklyn over 30 years ago. Her head was hanging out of the door and her feet were still on the bus. She didn’t get hurt but the two of us laughed so hard. She would always tell me, if you get upset, think about the time I fell out of the bus and it will make you laugh. She would tell me to think about the good things in your life. Donna all I have to do is think of you when I need to think about the great things in my life.

When we were children she was afraid of the dark. She used to wake me up in the middle of the night and ask me to walk her to the bathroom. When she lost her sight, she was 22, imagine living in darkness and yet having a fear of darkness. How scary that must have been. But she did live her life and loved to get out, go shopping, go out to dinner and be with friends and family. She even traveled by plane, alone. She never gave up. She got through each day and truly believed that it was a great day. She had so much courage, courage that I have never had. Today she can finally see and she will light up our lives and show us the way. Bill said to me the other night, oh now that Donna can see, she is saying “oh that is what Bill looks like”, Oh Baby, I love it! I know that she is watching us and seeing us with her beautiful eyes.

She lived in constant pain. She never complained. When we talked on the phone I would always be so happy when she said she was having a good day. But she was never worried about herself; she was always worried about me. She would say, I want to come to NJ to take care of you. I want to be there for you. She was there for me every day of my life. She was my best friend and she was my mother’s best friend. She worried about the two of us so much. She worried about my job and when I was traveling. She worried that I wasn’t eating right. She worried about my mother’s eyes. She would tell me I have to stay with mommy to take care of her, I have to take her to the doctor. She did take care of us and we know that she will still take of us and give us the strength to take care of each other.

I am so grateful that in the last 5 weeks I got to spend so much time with her. During that time there were so many steps forward and for each step forward there would be a step back. She was so strong and never shed a tear. My mother and I would be crying and she would hold our hand so tight as if to say “everything is going to be alright”.

Sometimes in life we forget the simple courtesies, not Donna, she was so grateful, she always said please and thank you. She even thanked the nurses when they had to take blood, she thanked the doctors and everyone else who came to poke her, move her. You could see many of the procedures were painful, but she just said thank you. She always held her hand out to shake everyone’s hand that she met even in the hospital she would reach out her hand to thank the doctors.

Last Wednesday, she was off the ventilator for one day. We were all so happy and she was able to talk to us. We told her to rest her voice and she said I want to talk. She was clapping her hands, and I said what are you clapping for, she said I am happy. That day she had some difficulty breathing and she asked me not to leave her, and I held her tight and told her that I would not leave her, that I was there for her. Donna, I know that you will never leave me and you will be here for me always. I also know that you will never struggle to breathe again.

Friday, we talked to her about all of the things that she was going through. She raised her hand in a cheerleader style and indicated that she would not give up and that she wanted to fight. She kept pumping her fist and we did a little cheer together spelling out D-O-N-N-A.

Sunday, August 22, we had a wonderful day with her. My mom, Uncle Charlie’s, Bill and I were in the room. I said to Donna do you want to listen to some music and she shook her head yes. She loved music so much. When we were kids we loved to sing and dance and so I brought my Ipad to the hospital and searched for songs that we grew up to. I said sdo you want to hear Do Wa ditty. She put a smile on her face and shook her head yes. I wish all of you could have been there to see her. She was dancing in the bed, her entire body was bopping to the music and her hands were waving and her face was lit up in the brightest smile that she is so known for. She was dancing so hard and shaking her hands that she set off the alarms on the machines, but she kept going anyway. We danced to so many memories that day. My mother and I were singing and dancing with her. It was so wonderful to see. I reminded her that I had to go to the counter of the cd store and buy her the bay city rollers while she hid on the side making believe that the cd was for me. She laughed so hard as we listened to S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night. The nurses came in to watch this beautiful spirit on a ventilator dancing and laughing and brining joy to all of us. She would tell me that she loved the song “We Need A Little Christmas”. Last Sunday we had a Little Christmas.

The last few weeks we were so fortunate to see her beautiful smile when we visited her. I want to talk about her smile, if you knew Donna you knew that infectious smile and the happiness you felt just being in her presence. Anna, who was one of the nurses who took care of Donna at night called her “Gamma Ray” a ray of sunshine with the beautiful smile. Everyone who would come into her room in CCU would talk about how beautiful it was to see Donna smiling for them all the time.

Every day it was my routine to call Donna up on my way home from work. I always enjoyed it because she always kept me company while I was driving home. A few weeks before she went into the hospital she asked me if I could find the song Smile sung by Michael Jackson. I know that she truly wants us to live the lyrics of that song today. So Donna, I will try to smile though my heart is aching, smile, even though its breaking, and when there are clouds in the sky, I’ll get by because I will think of your beautiful smile.

Donna never said poor me, she fought all the battles and won most of them. She fought battles that many of us will never be asked to fight and she stayed strong and courageous. She told us everyday how much she loved us and I loved my sister so much and today I am selfish because I still want her here with me.

She loved her family so much and even though we didn’t have a father growing up we were blessed with our wonderful aunts and uncles, grandma and grandpa. who were there throughout our lives and who brought us both so much joy and happiness. Just 2 years ago we had the most beautiful celebration for Donnas’ 50th birthday and all the family was together for the party weekend in honor of Donna. We had a weekend of pool, poker, charades, dicey-dice, fun, happiness and love. It was a weekend that she still talked about.

It was okay that we didn’t have a father in our lives because my mother took the role of both parents. She was both a father and a mother to us. I remember that one year Donna and I gave my mother a card and cake on father’s day too. We used to be the 3 musketeers. When we were about 9 0r 10 my mother took us to an ice cream parlor. She sat across the table from us and was very serious when she said “you know, the 3 of us are so lucky because we have a great rapport”. Donna and I laughed so hard because mommy was so serious and we didn’t even know what rapport meant. We have joked about that so many times over the years. Last week when I was with Donna in the hospital, I said Donna, you me and mommy have such a great rapport. She was laughing so much. Donna loved my mother so much and the reason that Donna was able to fight for 52 years was because of my mother. Mom she loved you with all of her heart and she appreciated everything that you did for her. She was your life and you were hers and you took such great care of her. She took care of you too and will continue to do so. She will protect you and be with you always. Over the last five weeks I heard my mother whisper to Donna so many times, “you complete me, and I will never leave you” and she never did, and Donna will never leave you. You made her life complete.

I told Donna last week, Uncle Charlie must really love you a lot because he sang a solo in the hospital. Uncle Charlie sang a song to you that we all feel today and that will be with us forever. The words of the song are I had a girl Donna was her name, since she’s been gone I’ll never be the same. For I love my girl Donna where can you be?

Donna we know where you are, we know that you are in heaven with all of the other angels. We know that you have no more pain and that now you can see. This morning I watched the sun rise and had joy knowing that you were watching it with me. We love you and we will always miss you.

If we can take anything away from the loss of our beautiful daughter, sister, niece, cousin and friend it should be that before we complain about things in our life we must remember to be thankful for the things that we take for granted.

Dear Terese, Barbara and family. Donna - you were my oldest and dearest friend. I will always cherish the time we spent together in Ft. Lauderdale.

I think back when we were kids and laugh at some of the memories we shared.

I think back to June when we enjoyed dinner in your favorite restaurant Sea Watch.

I always enjoyed our little shopping trips; or that you always had sun chips for Frankie my son. You always felt safe when he guided you around a store. I remember the laughs when we help you move to your apartment - you were so excited. Donna I will miss your smile; I will miss your beautiful blue eyes sparkling - I will miss you.

I know you are now an angel - and God wanted you. I know you are surrounded by people who love you in heaven. I know you will always be in my heart.

I love you Donna - your friend always
Virginia

Therese and Barbara

Unfortunately with you and Donna in Florida we didn't get to spend a lot of time with you and Donna.

The first thing I remember about Donna is her sense of humor! She was so very funny with a GREAT sense of humor.

I was shocked to learn she was as sick as she was.

Donna carried herself with dignity and a sense of joy. I never heard her complain.

Therese, as a mom there will be a hole in your heart! I am not going to lie. You will miss her and it will hurt. Over time the wound will not hurt as much. You will remember her with love and pride.

Barbara, as a sister you will also have a hole in your heart. Lean on Billy since you both have lost your sibling. Donna was a beautiful person. The few times we spent with her were happy and fun.

Give yourself time to grieve and heal.

She will ALWAYS be in your heart. As time goes by you will be able to think of her and not have it be so painful.

We love you both and are here for you so lean on us!

Love Donna, Gary and Sawyer

Donna - "G.G." now has a new meaning..."God's Gift". You were truly a gift - teaching us to be grateful, appreciative of what we have, and to live life to the fullest with a positive disposition. You will be missed!!!!
Love, the other "G.G."

DANIEL NASTRO EULOGY (August 27, 2010)
On behalf of Therese and all members of our family, I want to thank you for being here tonight- it is a wonderful testament of your love for this special lady, my niece, Donna.
I asked to speak tonight because I need to say something about my remarkable niece who brightened my life with her endearing ways and love.
Each of you here is the better for her having been in your life.
I need to speak as part of my personal grieving process and as part of our collective healing process.
There are some people who bring sunshine into your life and clarify what is important and what is not. Donna is one of them. Donna you are the great clarifier.
Please note, that apart from my remembrances, I will speak about Donna and to Donna in the present tense.
Donna, my words are directed to you my lovely and loving niece.
It is your soul to whom I speak. Your body, which suffered so much, and struggled so valiantly, has finally succumbed to the various physical afflictions, which you endured with such uncommon good grace.
It is your soul, your spirit which lives on forever. It dwells today in the hearts of all of us in attendance and everyone who had the pleasure and honor of knowing you during your physical lifetime.
This will be somewhat emotional. As I speak my brain will follow respectfully some distance behind my heart.
I realize now that love does not truly know its own depth until the moment of separation and that times remembered are antidotes for grief.
Donna you are beautiful! You set the standard for excellence in a human being!
In every storm of your life I remember your soul, your unconquerable spirit shining through. For example, your words of thank you and appreciation to the doctors and nurses who treated and cared for you in the hospital as they prodded and poked you with their needles, turned you over, vented you, you smiled and left them in awe of your fortitude.
I remember that smile and infectious grin as I reach out now and hold your hand.
I remember how you always called my dear sister, your mother, Mommy, and her reply, “Mommy is here”. That sacred name Mommy sums up how deep, how profound your mutual relationship is and how much she misses you.
The poet Milton, who is statured among the greatest poets, was blind; He wrote a lyrical poem entitled On His Blindness. Its theme is that God judges humans on whether we labor for Him to the best of our ability. In other words, what do we contribute to each other with the talents we have. The poem begins “When I consider how my light is spent, Ere half my days in this dark world and wide And that one talent which in death to hide, Lodged with me useless though my soul more bent, To serve there with my Maker, and present my true account.
And concludes
They also serve who only stand and wait.
I think of that line “they also serve who only stand and wait” and how it applies to you. I ask how many hours did you stand and wait in the loving embrace of your mother while I or others got the car.
How many times you stood and waited with each of us embracing you and then navigated flights of stairs or walked an unfamiliar pathway to go to a restaurant, a department store, even to a movie with me.
While you stood and waited, you also served. You served. You served with the brightness of your smile, with your simple expression of thank you, with your words of appreciation and with your delight in the joyful anticipation of the event that we were going to.
Though I was saddened by your plight, I was uplifted by your courage, by your gratitude and appreciation for anything that was done in assisting you.
You served by teaching me tolerance and patience in bearing the little trivial upsetments in my life when things didn’t go exactly as I wished, wanted or planned.
You served by making every time I was with you a special and joyous event. Your enthusiasm and joy was contagious.
James M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan observed that “God gives us memories so that we will have roses in December.” God gives us memories so that we have roses in December. What an awesome statement. Donna, you have given me garlands of roses which blossom always into the sweetest thoughts of you.
One time, you asked me what you could do for me. I jokingly said take me to dinner and bring me flowers.
I understand that you called Bill, your dear Sister Barbara’s husband to inquire as to what flowers would be suitable to give a man. He suggested carnations, but you would have none of that. You wanted better for me. So when I came to visit on Memorial Day Weekend (by the way you were always on my case to come to Fort Lauderdale) you touched my heart ever so sweetly-when you smiling presented me with a gorgeous bouquet of roses. Donna you are the only woman who has ever given me roses. You wrapped those roses in love and I have never felt more loved and appreciated by anyone else.
You served by taking me to dinner at Sea Watch on Memorial Day- You served when I felt boundless love for you when your mother gave you the bill and guided your hand as you signed for it and paid for it with your credit card.
When I told your mother later that I wanted to reimburse you- she said no, that you would be upset with me if I did that.
You got me cologne, Acqua Di Gio by Giorgio Armani. When I told you later, I can’t wear it at my settlement conferences and mediations –that women attorneys couldn’t concentrate and kept attacking me, that I needed a stick to keep them away, and we could not get anything done- you laughed gleefully and said “Oh No”. When I told you that I told you dear sister Barbara about this and she replied “you wish Uncle Dan” you laughed and said “Oh No”.
You served when Therese told me how solicitous you were and how you insisted that you get me the yogurt flavor that I liked- Boston Crème and Pineapple Upside Down Cake- We laughed when you got me Special K cereal fortified with protein and we both exclaimed we were an unbeatable combination as we faced the day fortified with our Special K protein. You never thought I was high maintenance as others have told me.
You always went along with my nonsensical humor, particularly when I teased Uncle Tom and then told him that you instigated it. Remember when I told Tom that he should have the Madison Square Garden 2 as part of his TV package, and insisted that he call the Cable Company and not be cheated. I told him that you put me up to it. You laughed and kept saying “Oh No “as I told you how upset and irritated Tom became that he did not have Madison Square Garden 2 when he should have had it and how frustrated he was when he got no help from the cable company.
Though you were blind you observed more that anyone else because you saw intuitively into the hearts of everyone. You truly are the Seer so beautifully described by Timothy Williams in his poem The Seer dedicated to you.
You spoke to me and others as if you could see- you would say the ocean’s beautiful today- the TV has a beautiful picture. Once while we were watching football at Uncle Charlie’s you shouted at me did I see that touchdown run- that it was awesome.
Charlie always wanted you and not your mother and me on his charades team because you expressed yourself so beautifully. Your mother and I were klutzes but you were a gem of a player.
Donna when I last left you on 8/6/10 I held your hand and I said that you had to get better for 2 reasons.
1. I can’t keep coming to Fort Lauderdale from Phoenix bringing my mops and brooms with me on the plane to clean your apartment; and
2. I was not going to dance with any other woman until I danced with you again like we did at Joe and Hillary’s wedding. That I wanted to you wear that same beautiful dress you wore that evening.
I leaned over and you whispered that you did not think you could dance again. I said you will!
Kahil Gibran in the Prophet writes “And when the earth shall claim your limbs then shall you truly dance.”
Donna Honey, take my hand pirouette around me. You dance beautifully, I love you.
Donna I have searched for words of comfort for myself and to share with all who love you. I found these words which I envision you speaking to me and to us now!
Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away into the next room.
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other that we still are
Call me by my old familiar name
Speak to me in the easy way you always used to
Wear no false air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes between us
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me
Let my name be spoken by all those I love without the ghost of a shadow on it
Life means all that it ever meant
There is absolutely unbroken continuity
What is death but a negligible accident
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am standing and waiting for you- for an interval somewhere near around the corner
All is well
Donna I love you, we love you, we miss you and you will always be in our minds and hearts. Donna I intend to always speak to you and laugh with you and share the beautiful roses of your memory and the sweet fragrance your life emitted.
Donna because of you, I intend to always try to understand what is true and real, to be less quick to anger and to love the people in my life like I never loved before.
Thank you for serving and teaching me and everyone who knew you these valuable lessons.
God Bless You

Hi everyone. I’m Michael. Donna meant a lot to a lot of people, including me, so I wrote a song I would like to sing for her. Donna had always encouraged me to chase my dreams of becoming a singer-songwriter and enjoyed when I sang for her. I want to dedicate this song to Donna and her family. I hope you all like this song, especially Therese... I love you!

Tears
By: Mikey Zelenke – Age 10

(Chorus)
Right now is bad and I’m so sad
I can’t believe you’re gone.
I loved your smile and now I’m gonna have to
wipe my tears.

I’m waiting here to see you again
I see your face everywhere I go
Now I have no choice but to sit here
And drown in my memories of you.

(Chorus)

I think of you wherever I go
Cause I can’t get you out of my mind.
It’s so hard to lose someone
As special as you are.

And now all I have to say is
(Chorus)

(Bridge)
You may have gone to a better place
And now all I have to say is...
I miss you...
And I love you...
Heaven is lucky to have you.
And I’ll wait for you to smile on me.

(Chorus)

Dear Terry, I know how much you hurt, I feel your pain, but we have to accept God,s will, He gave us our children, let us love them care for them, worry for them and he takes them when the time has arrived.She was a delightfull person, loverd to live, and she will live in our heart foirever, so dry up uour tears
and live for tomorrow, love your friend Theresa

"Barbara and Family" As we make our way through life, we meet some people who leave an impression and have an impact on us that we will continually remember, Donna was such a person. We could always count on a constant positive outlook and open personality that would allow her to put everyone at ease. She will be greatly missed by all.We love you always Donna

Therese: Please know how much Donna meant to me and her death is a loss to me in more ways that you know. She was an angel, a trooper and an amazing young woman. I pray that you will find strength in the outporuing of love and good wishes from so many family and friends. Love, Joan Phoenix, AZ

Dear Terry and family,
Words cannot express the loss I feel in the departure of our beloved Donna.
There has simply been no other person in my life who exuded love, warmth and affection the way she did. She was an inspiration to me and to all who had the good fortune to have Donna in their lives, even for a short period of time. My prayers go out to you and your family as you cope with an event that brings great sadness to us but brings great joy to Donna. For, as the song says, and I have no doubt that this is true: "I can see clearly now." I have no doubt that she will remain in our hearts forever.
(My previous version had a typo which this one corrects)

I never met Donna Ann but I knew her through her cousin Diane Carraway and knew she was a very special lady. I know she will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.

Life isn't easy, but you made it seem like a piece of cake. You will be missed tremendously -- especially that smile of yours! Rest easy,Donna. Bless you always.

Knowing you was not only a blessing but an inspiration to us all. Life may have thrown a couple of "lemons" your way, but boy did you make the best "lemonade"! Rest peacefully Donna. You'll not only be in our prayers but also in our hearts.

Dearest Therese, Barbara, and Charlie,

I know that I was only blessed to know Donna for the final 5 weeks of her life, but I cannot express how much she touched me during this time. I have simply never cared for someone who has suffered so tremendously and yet kept a genuine smile on her face and so much love in her heart for others without fail. To know Donna - to even have the slightest encounter with her - was to love her... To care for her, night after night, and to experience that smile, even through the pain, was an honor and a joy I won't ever forget. Thank you for sharing your Donna with me and with all of us in the CCU at Holy Cross. She touched us all and has left our world better for having known and loved her. With love, Anna Morrison, RN

Dearest Terri and Barbara,
My heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to you both, on Donna's passing. Her fortitude, graciousness, humility and humour in adversity, serve as a shining example to those of us fortunate enough to have known her. Despite what was going on in her life, she always had time to enquire, as to the welfare of others. I have had, and will always carry with me truly endearing memories of her, over the years. She was really was a ray of sunshine to brighten the day and she will be sorely missed.
Love
Malcolm

Donna exhibited the strength that many of us can only hope for. I myself am unable to truely absorb how this woman showed such great power in the roughest times. While faced with such hardship, Donna found a way to continuosly keep us smiling as to soften our own worries. Barbara and Therese, I heard nothing but deep love throughtout the bond you shared with Donna. She will be greatly missed not only for her humor and smile, but also for her passion of life.

I will always be here for support during this difficult time. I will be eternally grateful that I was able to meet such a beautiful butterfly.

Dear Barbara and Family,
I was so sorry to hear of Donna passing. She was truly an amazing person and will live on in the hearts of everyone she ever met. She will be greatly be missed. Please accept our deepest sympathies, our thoughts and prayer are with you.

Love Jean & Jimmy

Terri and family, I will cherish the memory of Donna and our days of laughing in the sun on the cruises we took. She was a beautiful, loving and courageous soul who will be missed by all who knew her, no matter how briefly.

Barbara, Bill and Family, I am deeply saddened by your loss...Our thoughts and prayers are with you...John Schuster

Dear Therese, Barbara, and Family,
Donna's dignity was an extension of her courage and passion for life. Donna's Spirit is eternal for it will always be present in the hearts and memories of those who were blessed to have known her. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Love,
Maureen and Eddy

Dear Terry and family,
Words cannot express the loss I feel in the departure of our beloved Donna.
There has simply been no other person in my life who exuded love, warmth and affection the way she did. She was an inspiration to me and to all who had the good fortune to have Donna in their lives, even for a short period of time. My prayers go out to you and your family as you cope with an event that brings great sadness to us but brings great joy to Donna. For, as the song says, and I have no doubt that this is true: "I can see cleary now." I have no doubt that she will remain in our hearts forever.

What beautiful pictures of a special person. She will be missed. I am sorry I am not able to be at the funeral but in my thoughts and my prayers I will be there with your family in this time of sadness. I will miss Donna very much.
Her friend, Mary Ann Naples (Barnegat, NJ)

Barbara, Therese and family...my thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Though I met Donna only once I know her courage and love of life will be her legacy. God Bless and know you always have my support
Love-Ellen

Barbara & Bill
Please accept my most sincere condolences on the loss of Donna. I had been praying for her for quite some time. Unfortunately for us who are left behind, the answer to prayer was not the one we were looking for. Only Donna truly knows the Glory of the Heavenly Kingdom as she has been "promoted" to eternal life. I am never good at "these things", but I felt compelled to let you know that she is in heaven and that she will appreciated your dedication to her and how incredibly helpful you were at the time when she need you at the most. Led by our Glorious God and inspired by Donna courageous battle you have provided her the most beautiful gratitude as a sister.
Donnas’ memory will be eternal..bc she was a grateful person, a person who smiles at all time, a person who cares about love and passion, a person who knows a real friendship a person who make me laugh in one and more occasion when she was here in Jersey .................

God bless you Dona and as I said “ You had been promoted to eternal life” bc I will not forget u and I will keep your good memories in my heart forever and ever.

Terry-
Annie just told me about Donna. (My e-mail address is [email protected] so I did not receive the sad news from you.)
There are no words to express my sadness to you. Even though I met you and Donna just once, I feel that I have come to know both of you through our telephone conversations. The times that I spoke to Donna and thought she was you, she told me what a compliment it was to be mistaken for you. She loved you tremendously. I truly wish there was something I could do for you, and I know there isn't anything, except to remember Donna for the person she was, and to wish you strength.
My sympathy to you and you family-
Love,
Betsy

When I first met Donna (many years ago) I saw a beautiful Angel with an impish smile and everlasting determination....just like her Mother! Now, she is truly an Angel and is certainly watching over Therese and Barbara. I have been blessed meeting and knowing Donna. Her spirit will live on in my heart.
Ms. Dee (New Jersey)

“To the sweetest woman I ever knew” Those were the words I selected to accompany the flowers I sent to the funeral home. Terry appropriately asked that instead of flowers we send donations to the agencies at the forefront of dealing with the illnesses Donna suffered with in her all too brief life. I will do that but I could not let the occasion pass without also sending some flowers in memory of such a marvelous person. Flowers are beautiful but they are temporary, they do not last. But Donna was like flowers, beautiful to look at and to admire but she did not last either. She had a long life but not long enough for those of us who knew and loved her. But unlike flowers, when she passed she has given us much to remember and indeed ponder.
If you had one word to use to describe Donna that word would have to be love. She loved life, she loved people, she loved children, she loved animals, and she loved flowers, the trees, the snow, the rain, the sun, she simply loved life. In writing to friends I tried to select songs that made me think of her. I had forgotten the most obvious, which her dear beloved friend Denise remembered—What a wonderful world by many people including Louie Armstrong. If there is a song that expressed her view of life it would have to be a song like that. For she loved the world and all of its creatures and she loved life. http://www.last.fm/music/Louis+Armstrong/_/What+a+Wonderful+World
She could have become embittered with what she had been dealt with in life but instead she became love. You’ve heard the expression of people who were given lemons and they made lemonade? In Donna’s case she may have been given lemons but she made lemon meringue pie!
Her beloved mother, Terry called her an angel. I’m sure that just about every mother who had lost a child would think that way. But in this case, all who knew her knows that that expression is no exaggeration, it was simply a matter of fact. She set such a standard of love, warmth, affection and courtesy for all that it puts all of the rest of us to shame.
How did she do it? How could she continue to live this way? How could she find happiness in such fleeting moments? I do not have the wisdom to know. All I know is that it was and is impossible not to love a person like that.
In the Old Testament, in Micah are the words:
With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high?....
He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
In the New Testament, comes the obvious words that all of us know of the Golden Rule—to love others as we love ourselves, to do unto others as we would have done unto us. I submit that Donna was as substantial a Christian as anyone we know. She didn’t wear her religion on her sleeve, she did the harder thing, she lived it! Many may profess to be Christians but how many of us can truly say we live it? Very few and I know I’m not one of those who can.
What are we left with in her passing? A song that I think expresses what Donna is feeling if she could communicate with us is: “I can see clearly now….” It expresses the joy that Donna must feel as she has passed beyond the earthly restraints that she battled with for so much of her short life. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIqLsGT2wbQ
But for us, the only anthem that expresses how I feel now is the haunting version of Hallelujah originally written by Leonard Cohen and the more dramatic version by Rufus Wainwright. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrLk4vdY28Q

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/rufus-wainwright-rufus-wainwright-hallelujah/36028865291923759

Although I don’t care for all of the words, the powerful tune does speak to the anguish of letting her slip through our arms.
All we can do is remember her and know that she does see clearly now the blue skies that comes with her future in heaven. Although we are sad in her passing we must be joyous that one that we all love has finally finished her suffering and can dwell in an environment of love which she cultivated so completely when she was with us. I feel honored that I knew her and was able to spend some time with such a true angel.
My heart goes out to those of her family who knew her more than I. I can only say that after they get through this transition that they can get to very happy memories of someone who so enriched their lives.
Finally, we all know that Donna would not want us to suffer in her absence. She wants us to be happy for her escape and to remember her by following her by seeing clearly now that we need to love life and to love others. I pray that all of us, including myself, can do that.

Dear Barbara, Therese and family,
My heart truly goes out to you at this time of sorrow. Donna was such an incredible, beautiful person. Her strength and joy always shined through to all who met her. Please accept our deepest sympathies, and know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Love, Deb & Fred Cohen

I was so sorry to hear of your loss. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help at this time.

Aunt Therese and Barbara, We send our love and comfort to you as we miss and mourn Donna and her beautiful, courageous spirit. We can still hear her laugh and are cherishing our fond memories. We hope her grace, love and strength will live on. You are all in our hearts. Love, Debbie and Sebastien

Therese, Barbara and Family,
We are so sorry to hear of Donna's passing. She was such a strong, loving and truly amazing person. To know her was to love her. She will be greatly missed and our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
All our love, Jackie & Dave Mellett