HORNELL-Rachel G. Donavon, 86, passed away early Sunday morning (March 29, 2015), with her family by her side, at her home on Thacher St.
Born in Bethlehem, Pa. on Oct. 8, 1928, she was a daughter of the late Angelo and Rose Faiolo Giglio. On May 30, 1951, she was married at St. Ann’s Church in Hornell to James F. Donavon, who predeceased her on Apr. 18, 2013, after 52 years of marriage. Besides her parents and husband, she was also predeceased by her two daughters, Kelly Ann Donavon and Mary Ann Donavon; and her three brothers, Leonard, Henry and Angelo Giglio.
After the death of her mother, Rachel, at the age of seven, began living at the Hornell Children’s Home for several years along with her three brothers. Later she graduated from Hornell High School and the former Hornell Business School.
She was employed at Alfred State College before she began her career with the NYSDOT in Hornell, retiring in 1992, after many years of employment.
Rachel was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and was a communicant of St. Ann’s Church in Hornell. She was also a member of the Ladies of Columbus, the Italian-American Women’s Club, the Quilting Guild and several book clubs.
Rachel loved to sew. She enjoyed quilting, knitting and was an avid reader. She learned to bowl at the age of 82. Rachel most enjoyed visiting and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Her loving family includes her son, Thomas Donavon of Lake Placid; her three daughters, Mary Elizabeth Weyand of Hornell, Mary Patricia (Daniel) Schum of Rochester and Mary Margaret (Howard) Silverstein of Montclair, N.J.; her 15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; her sister, Eleanor McCaul of Hornell; her sister-in-law, Marian Giglio of Hornell; her nieces and nephews as well as her good friend, Lu Wiley of Hornell.
The Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc. in Hornell is honored to serve the family of Rachel G. Donavon.
Calling hours are 4-7 p.m. today (Tuesday) at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell. The Ladies of Columbus will conduct a memorial service at 6:45 p.m. today (Tuesday) at the funeral home. Friends are invited to meet her family at St. Ann’s Church where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Committal prayers and interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Town of Fremont.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in her memory to either St. Ann’s Church of Our Lady of the Valley Parish, 27 Erie Ave., Hornell or to the Hornell High School Alumni Association, P.O. Box 135, Hornell, N.Y. 14843. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.
Online condolences or remembrances of Rachel are welcomed at www.bishopnadjohnsonfuneralhome.com.
