Amy F Donington

Amy Donington, 59, passed away Sunday November 23rd after a hard-willed fight against pancreatic cancer. Amy was a deeply beloved mother, daughter, sister, friend, and member of her community. She made many special connections working in both law offices and as a manager at a natural food market. Everywhere Amy went, people delighted in seeing her (and frequently covered her tab at the Pour House to show their gratitude).

Amy was a single mother who raised her daughter Frances Donington-Ayad (29, survived by) with an abundance of love, acceptance, encouragement and strength. Their mother-daughter bond was sacred and felt by all-anyone who knew Amy knew Franny, and anyone who knows Franny knows Amy. After settling in Red Bank, New Jersey, Amy shepherded Franny through the best schools and always supported her dreams of being a writer, including helping her move to Boston to pursue a degree.

Amy attended Saint Rose of Lima in Short Hills for elementary school, Milburn Junior High, and Milburn High School, where she was a cheerleader and basketball player. She attended Caldwell College to study English and continued to take literature classes after her diagnosis at Brookdale Community College. Amy was an avid reader and writer (and speller). In addition to that, she had a special interest-and excellent taste-in movies, music, cuisine, and art. She could always be relied on to recommend a story, album, or recipe that touched and changed your soul.

Amy was the fourth daughter of John Scott Donington (69, deceased) and Pamela (Francis) Stiener (83, survived by). Born at Overlook Hospital in Summit and raised in Millburn and Short Hills, Amy is survived by her six sisters, Suzanne DelVecchio (64), Rebecca Donington (62), Jessica Donington (60), Rachel Donington (56), Abigail Donington (55), and Sarah Donington (51), in addition to her 15 nieces and nephews.

Amy had a special knack for honoring the quiet moments that make a life well lived. She understood the essence of what it means to be human. From childhood, Amy loved giraffes and filled her various homes with celebrations of them. She loved the New York Yankees and relished in watching their games at her favorite local watering hole. Amy found wisdom and solace in epic critters-E.T., Yoda, the Hobbits of Middle Earth. She filled her life with what she loved and never let materialism or superficiality define her happiness.

Amy was one of the few people in this world who others felt genuinely comfortable to be themselves around. You never had to explain why you felt the way you felt; Amy just got it. She was incredibly smart, wise, and emotionally intelligent beyond her years. The void Amy left behind in this world is deep, felt by many, and will be hard to fill. Her gentle, witty soul will be missed beyond what words can capture.

In lieu of flowers, Amy's family asks for donations to be made to Mary's Place by the Sea in Ocean Grove, a respite for women battling cancer.

A service for Amy will be held on Saturday December 13th at Triumph Brewery in Red Bank, NJ between 1 pm and 4 pm. All are welcome to celebrate and pay tribute to Amy's life.