Donna A Pascale

April 27,1960 – February 17, 2024
Age 63

Visitation
Thursday, February 22, 2024
2pm-5pm
7pm-9pm

Mass
Friday February 23, 2024
10:45 am

St Raymond RC Church
263 Atlantic Avenue
East Rockaway, New York 11518

It is with great sadness that the Pascale family announces the sudden and untimely passing of Donna Ann Pascale, beloved wife, mother and friend. She passed peacefully on February 17, 2024 with the utmost dignity and respect and had her immediate loved ones present with her at Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre.

Born April 27, 1960 in Brooklyn, NY to Albert and Helen Tricarick, Donna grew up in Lynbrook, NY where she settled down and lived her whole life.

As a young woman, Donna attended and graduated from Malverne Senior High School in the mid 1970’s.

During her teenage years she described antics and mischief with her friends seemingly almost to intentionally drive her parents insane. She would describe her nights coming home in the wee hours of the morning to her father sitting at the dining room table drinking a cup of coffee giving her a look that said: “your mother is awake, I’m going to work now, good luck”!

In her young adulthood, Donna met the love of her life, James (Jimmy) at the department store formerly known as Alexander’s where she managed the Men’s Department and he worked security. Due to their rotating schedules, Jimmy would always describe their relationship as “two ships passing in the night”. However, eventually those ships must dock somewhere and in February of 1983 they began dating. Donna loved Jimmy with all of her heart and vice versa. They would do anything for each other and were each other’s rock, with Jimmy being there for her and supporting her during the untimely passing of her father, Albert (Albie).

“Albie” would tell Donna that normally he wouldn’t be okay with her dating someone who owned a van with a picnic table in the back, but Jimmy had short hair so he must be a good guy and admitted prior to his passing, that he would be honored to have him as his son-in-law.

That honor became a reality, and in October of 1986, Donna and Jimmy got married. During their newlywed years, Donna loved activities with Jimmy such as visiting wine venues, enjoying long car rides, and just spending time on the bay on a beautiful day watching the boats go by. Donna also loved music, with her favorite genre without a doubt being disco. In the Pascale house, the hits of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s were always on full blast and she loved a good, random dance break!

Anyone who knew Donna, knew she had a penchant for fashion, owls (which to her represented strength, wisdom and reminded her of her father), and of course…the color red.

Some of Donna’s fondest memories were spent with her lifelong friends Nancy, Anna & Betty whom she adored every moment with, and who she considered to be her sisters more than just her friends. Donna met Nancy in 5th grade at the age of 10 and grew up across the street from Betty back in 1964.

Their most impactful memories as young girls through adulthood included spending time together listening to records, and when they were all 18, going out to disco clubs where Donna was known to dance the night away! Donna was also known by her friends to be a great hostess and a wonderful cook. She would routinely have them over to share a meal and break bread together.

Their friendship and the bonds that they shared are a testament to their commitment and loyalty to one another through all of life’s trials and tribulations. It wasn’t uncommon in the Pascale household to see Donna on the phone for hours gossiping with her friends or for one of them to just randomly drop by to say “hello”.

As a young adult, Donna attended and earned her Associates Degree from Nassau Community College in Business Administration.

In her professional life, Donna worked for many years in the insurance industry. Most recently, she was the lead Administrative Assistant for a printing company in Rockville Centre, where she faithfully dedicated 20 years. She was a devoted employee who took her job seriously and helped show newer employees the way under her tutelage.

Donna was a proud mother to her only son, her “pride and joy”, Michael. After having her son, Donna committed her entire life, her very essence and being, to raising him in a nurturing, caring, and loving environment. She instilled in him her very best core values. As a young teenager, Donna tolerated many of Michael’s antics, most notably of which was hosting her son’s heavy metal band (who were sure they were the next Metallica) as they would practice in her basement multiple days a week. She never once complained about the noise or about all the nice china in her china cabinet shaking, moving and sometimes falling over due to the vibrations from the “music”. Instead, she was always quick to invite Michael’s friends to stay for dinner or to hang out at the house where she knew they would be safe.

Michael grew up and married his wife, Alexandra, who Donna immediately embraced as her daughter-in-law and loved her so very dearly as the daughter she never had. Donna and Alexandra had a beautiful relationship and spoke all the time, sending eachother gifs and shared inside jokes. Donna and Alexandra’s mom, Marie-Helene, became best friends and loved talking about “their kids” in a humbling display of what one could only describe as sisterly love.

Holidays, birthdays and any cause for celebration were always a special occasion for Donna. She never needed a reason to have a great party with good food and even better company! She always looked forward to special occasions and holidays with her brother Kevin Tricarick, his wife Leslie and their two sons, Kevin and Kyle. Many a joyous celebration was had by Donna with the Tricaricks, and their sibling bond (and at times rivalry!) will forever live on.

Additionally, Donna loved spending time with her cousin, Geraldine, and her husband, Pat, along with their son Pete and his family. Donna shared many warm and happy moments, holidays, birthdays and the like with “Gerri & Pat” and they were always present for one another in times of joy or in times of need. Inseparable they were, and family-forward in their approach to life and children, as family should be.

Jimmy’s side of the family also adored Donna and loved having their annual Christmas parties with her in attendance. Her in-laws, Maureen and Leonard, graciously accepted her as part of the family from the get-go, and upon her marriage with Jimmy, she gained an extended family one can only dream of. They loved her for the beautiful person and soul that she is. Thank you to the extended Pascale, Nickdow and LaCourse families for the positive influence you’ve had on Donna.

And of course to the Senia and Rizzuto families, a very heartfelt thank you for all your love and support during these difficult times. Donna would rave about you all. Whether it was a BBQ, a graduation, a christening or just a random celebration, Donna loved spending time with you all and she would be sure to be as vocal about that as possible.

To anyone else that may have not been mentioned, please know it is not intentional, Donna had such a wide reach and positive influence on so many people that it is impossible to keep track of. You all know who you are and what your relationship with her was, feel free to reach out to us and share a story, funny anecdote, or a memory. We would love to hear about your relationship with her.

Donna was, without a doubt, a good woman at her foundation. She was kind and decent in everything she did and stood for. She was loving, compassionate, tolerant and family-oriented. Anyone who knew Donna, knew to stay on her good side! And if you were, you knew you had in her a loyal, trustworthy confidant who would give the shirt off her back to any of her friends or family in need.

Donna is survived by her husband James, her son, Michael, along with her daughter-in-law, Alexandra, (aka her “Royal Couple”), and of course her older brother, Kevin.

She is predeceased by her parents, Albert and Helen. We imagine Donna and her mother are likely driving each other crazy already, whilst her father is smiling beside them, happy to be reunited again, albeit to soon.

Flowers will be graciously accepted, but in lieu of such, please consider making a charitable donation in Donna’s name to an organization of your choosing.

Lastly, please consider wearing something red and/or owl-themed to the services to honor her memory. And if you have the pleasure of seeing a owl in-person, just know that is Donna dropping by to say hello and she’s doing fine!

On behalf of the entire Pascale family, thank you to each and every one of you for your outpouring of love, kind gestures, support, prayers and words during our loss. However, Donna would not want us to view this as a mourning of her loss, rather, a celebration of her life and that is exactly what we will do to carry on her memory!