Obituary of Donna Lynn Festa

Donna Lynn (D'Ambrose) Festa, age 42, of Trumbull, entered into peaceful rest on Saturday, February 2, 2008 as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.

Donna was born on December 2, 1965 in New Haven. She attended West Woods Elementary School and Hamden High School, graduating in 1983. She received a B.S. degree from Central Connecticut State University in 1987 and a Masters degree from Southern Connecticut State University. While in college, she met Pat Festa, the love of her life, and married in 1989. Donna has been a first grade teacher at West Woods School, which she attended as a child, for the past 21 years. She has touched and enriched the lives of countless children in that time. Teaching was her passion and she loved her students. She was also a mentor teacher. She just recently took a position as an adjunct professor at Quinnipiac University teaching an educational course. Donna has been active in Trumbull Little League softball where her husband is commissioner. She coached a team and did administrative work. She tried not to miss any of her daughters games. She was a devoted, loving mother who was proud of both of her girls.

Donna is survived by her beloved husband Pasquale (Pat) Festa Jr., two daughters, Katherine (Katie) and Madelyn (Maddie) Festa of Trumbull, her loving parents, Fred and Marilyn D'Ambrose of Hamden, a devoted sister Lisa Bennett and her husband Jim of Trumbull, a nephew Michael Maciver of Trumbull and her grandmother, Rebecca Hecker of Hamden. She is also survived by in-laws Pasquale Sr. and Nancy Festa of Seymour, two sisters-in-law, Jolene Festa (Ray Rios) of Brooklyn, NY and Melissa Festa of North Carolina and a nephew River Festa-Rios of Brooklyn.

Donna was a caring, smiling, happy-go-lucky woman who had many dear friends and was well known and respected in the Trumbull community as well as in Hamden. She leaves a rich legacy of love and good will to everyone who knew her. 

A Memorial Mass celebrating her life will take place on Saturday, February 9, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. in St. Theresa Church, 5301 Main St., Trumbull. Friends may greet the family at a Memorial Gathering on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home, 419 White Plains Rd., Trumbull. 

Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the Donna Festa Memorial Fund, P. O. Box 110461, Trumbull, CT 06611.