Donna Calano

She was born on Dec. 28, 1951, in Stapleton, Staten Island, to Elinor Carlin (Battone) and the late Thomas H. Carlin. The family moved to Westerleigh in 1956. Donna was an alumnus of Port Richmond High School and moved to Sarasota, Fla., to attend further her schooling.

Throughout the years, she worked at various jobs and volunteered for many organizations. She returned to Staten Island in the late 1990's.

Donna was an avid reader and imaginative writer. She enjoyed staying at country inns and bed-and-breakfasts, being at the beach, collecting antiques and old cookbooks. Donna Marie was a kind and generous person who was always ready to lend a helping hand to her family and her friends. She rescued many cats and dogs from shelters in her lifetime and, up to her passing, provided a loving home to Emmie, Scooter and Nemo.

Donna Marie is survived by her devoted husband, John Calano, and their blended family: Donna Marie's loving children, Christie Brownlee, Joseph, John, Teresa and Kathleen Calano, and her adoring grandchildren, Savannah Calano, Benjamin Julich-Brownlee and Michael Ramirez.

She is also survived by her loving mother, Elinor Carlin; her siblings, Thomas G. Carlin, David Carlin, Lisa Carlin Morgan (Michael); nieces, nephews and two uncles, many cousins, and her former husband, Larry Brownlee.

Donna Marie will be loved and greatly missed by all who had the good fortune to have had her in their lives.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, Sept. 23, and Sunday, Sept. 24, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral service is Monday, Sept. 25, at 10 a.m., at the Casey Funeral Home, with cremation to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please help find a cure to Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer Research by donating to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Casey Funeral Home 350 Slosson Ave.

Staten Island, N.Y. 10314 (718) 447-4242