Donna Ann Parisi

Parisi, Donna Ann, 66, of Wayne, passed away on April 22, 2021. Donna Ann Parisi (1954-2021) was born in Hackensack, NJ and grew up in Maywood, NJ to Mary Nardelli Parisi and Salvatore Parisi. She worked in the library at Columbia University and put herself through the masters program at NY Teachers College. She taught Special Education for many years, working with students with numerous challenges. 
Donna is survived by her brother, Dominick Parisi, and a host of cousins and friends who will cherish her memory. 
Donna was a lifelong learner who was intellectually curious and fascinated by the natural world. She was a staunch advocate for the downtrodden and hated injustice and bullying of any kind.
Donna lived at Preakness Healthcare Center for most of the past 20 years. Despite having Multiple Sclerosis, she worked tirelessly to improve her community and enrich the lives of those around her. She even sat on the planning board when Preakness was building their new wing. She helped design the residents' rooms to make them "homey". 
As resident council president, she used her organizational skills to advocate for many programs at Preakness and amplify the voices of her fellow residents. She also used her business acumen to hold numerous fundraisers and sales to provide special treats and parties for the residents. She was instrumental in composing plants, trees, and shrubs for the courtyard garden which has delighted residents and visitors over the years.
Due to Covid, a memorial service will be planned at a later date.
To honor Donna, please consider planting a garden or being kind to someone in need of a friend.