Ann Marie Borzelli Donato, 76, died peacefully on May 4, 2020, after a long, courageous battle with ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Ann was born in Derby, CT to Joseph and Nancy Borzelli as their first pride and joy.
Ann grew up in Derby with her parents and younger brother, Joseph. She graduated from Derby High School in 1961 and then from Southern Connecticut State Teachers College in 1965.
She married her high school sweetheart, James Donato, on April 22, 1967. Upon graduating college, Ann started her teaching career as an elementary school teacher. She taught for over 30 years spending most of those years as a third-grade teacher with some of her closest friends. She loved her job molding young minds and decorating her school room for every season.
Among her favorites was taking the Read Across America Day and kicking it up a notch to also honor Dr. Seuss. The day was filled with elaborate costumes and cameo appearances from community members.
Several years later, Ann began her favorite calling in life, motherhood. Her children, Deanna, Cynthia, and Steven were her life. She welcomed each of her six grandsons with pride and joy. She spent many hours outside of work attending her children and grandchildren’s extracurricular activities.
Anyone who knew her could hear her voice cheering the loudest from the crowd. Ann answered another calling in life by spear-heading her own “Support Our Troops” campaign for our soldiers and families she refers to as heroes. Spending numerous days collecting donations, stuffing boxes, and mailing nearly 2,000 care packages with her close friends and members of her church. Her support of the soldiers overseas fighting for our country earned her first Patriotic Citizen Award from St. Michael’s Post 1562 in August 2014.
Ann was also a Eucharistic Minister for over 10 years at the Church of the Good Shepherd. She enjoyed volunteering for many church functions; always ready and willing to help others. Her service was honored with the St. Joseph’s Medal of Appreciation in the Hartford Diocese in March 2017 for her service to the church.
A revolving door of family and friends were always welcome at her holiday feasts. Ann and Jim would spend days decorating and preparing while keeping the focus centered on Jesus.
Ann’s holiday celebrations did not end with traditional Italian dishes, Easter would bring an explosion of chicks, bunnies, and eggs festively decorating the house, while she insisted on everyone wearing bunny ears.
Christmas Eve, her absolute favorite holiday, would look like a winter wonderland as everyone celebrated the Italian Feast of Seven Fishes. She would have everyone take turns reading Christmas stories before making everyone play new Christmas games and participate in sing-a-longs, no matter how out of tune.
Ann and Jim enjoyed traveling together with family and friends. She loved visiting the Caribbean Islands and Disney. Her cherished trips were to Italy. In her spare time, she enjoyed cake decorating, throwing birthday parties, sewing Halloween costumes, chocolate making, hosting dinner parties, gardening, quilting, and flooding her e‑mail distribution groups with recipes and prayers.
Let’s not forget her absolute favorite … retail therapy!
Ann was predeceased by her mother, Nancy Concilio Borzelli, and father, Joseph Borzelli. Ann is survived by her loving and devoted husband, James, her three wonderful children, Deanna and her three sons; Jarret, Grady, and Tobey. Cynthia and her son, Tyler. Steven, his wife, Becky, and their two sons, Tucker and Jax. Ann is also survived by her brother, Joseph, his wife Beth, aunts, uncles, many cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.
Ann was loved by all who knew her. Those who were fortunate enough to know her soon realized the depth of her kindness, compassion, patience, and generosity. Her passion for God, for life, and her family in her last days, never subsided.
Her love for her family, faith in God, kindness and selflessness was unmeasurable. She will truly be missed by everyone she has touched in her life. She has her wings now and is dancing with her mom and dad in heaven. Just believe …
Due to the Covid Pandemic a memorial mass at St. Mary Church in Derby will be announced at a later time.
In lieu of flowers, we humbly ask that donations be made in Ann’s memory to either the “Support Our Troops” effort, or to the ALS Association in hopes for a cure!
The Edward F. Adzima Funeral Home, 253 Elizabeth St., Derby has been entrusted with her arrangements. Friends may leave condolences at www.adzimafh.com.
