Emilia D. Donahue

Emilia Donahue, 94, residing at Solstice Senior Living of Guilford, formerly of Newington, Windsor, CT, Milford, CT and North Haven, CT passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. She was the beloved wife of the late Richard J. Donahue, Sr. Born in Hartford, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Aniela (Blondek) Dziob. A spirited and warm-hearted woman, Emilia found joy in the simple pleasures of life and cherished every moment spent with those she loved. In her retirement, she enjoyed years on Topsail Island, North Carolina, walking the beach there, listening to the waves and watching the shorebirds. She loved when her sisters, children and grandkids would visit, enjoying the beach, looking for shells and shark teeth. A lifelong lover of the outdoors, she also enjoyed camping throughout the Northeast, with Cape Cod holding a special place in her heart. Creative and thoughtful, Emilia was a talented quilter and poet. She found happiness in her love of birds and yoga. She built meaningful connections throughout her life, both personally and professionally. She helped run her family business, Dental Connection, Inc., which was started by her husband Richard. She also worked as a Realtor with Clark and Patten Realty. Above all, Emilia's greatest pride and joy were her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, whom she loved unconditionally. She leaves behind her five children, Linda Mantlik and her husband Frank of Stratford, Kathleen Johnson and her husband Doug of Princeton, MA, Dr. Richard Donahue Jr. and his wife Kristen of Ipswich, MA, Elizabeth Casey and her husband Gerry of North Haven, and Priscilla Rooney and her husband John of Saunderstown, RI. She also leaves her 12 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. She also leaves her sister, Ruth Kiczuk. She was predeceased by her siblings, Virginia Grogan, Charles Dziob, Frank Dziob, Edward Dziob, Teddy Dombrowick, Flora Dziob, Anna Labritz, Jennie Pelehach and Stanley Dziob. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, October 18th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, 626 Willard Ave., Newington. She will be laid to rest beside her husband in West Meadow Cemetery, Newington. Memorial donations may be made to the CT Audubon Milford Coastal Center at www.ctaudubon.org/donate. To share a memory or condolence, please visit us at www.duksa.net. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Emilia, please visit our floral store.