Donna M. Serpentini

Donna M. Serpentini, a resident of Middletown, passed away peacefully on New Years Eve, Monday, December 31, 2018 at the Orange Regional Medical Center in the Town of Wallkill, NY. She was 70 years of age.

     The daughter of the late Donald Charles and Gloria Mae Powaltz, she was born on May 29, 1948 in Liberty, NY.

     Donna was a graduate of the Liberty High School and graduated from Orange County Community College in Middletown.

     Donna’s life was filled with the three things that defined her- love of flowers, love of Music (she even attended the Woodstock Festival in 1969) and her overwhelming love of Cape Cod, where the family vacations were the highlight of her year. Her concept of heaven on earth can easily be explained by the picture that sits on her desk, that of the ocean with the following words superimposed: “I just want to live on a beach, walk it at night…then fall asleep with the window open and listen to the waves crash”.

One of the greatest joys of her life was raising her son, Eric. She loved being a mother. Her conversations today always seem to end up with mention of Eric and her daughter-in-law, Aya, whom she adores. A testament to her nurturing personality is the endless list of children who still call her “Aunt Donna”.

Donna was a gourmet cook, loved to entertain and made every meal as if it was going to be judged by the New York Times food critic. Most of her meals were a once in a lifetime event, because no matter how good it turned out, the next time it would have to be improved.

Following the closing of Serpentini Jewelers in the Galleria Mall in 2002, Donna wanted to continue in the jewelry business and opened her own jewelry store in downtown Middletown. She ran this very successful business like a social club, keeping long time and new customers with sincerity, a bubbly personality and the ability to make everyone feel like she was your best friend.

She was a member of the Middletown Rotary Club and the Middletown Kiwanis Club.

    Survivors include; her husband, Richard J. Serpentini at home in Middletown; her son, Eric J. Serpentini and his wife Aya of Tokyo, Japan; her brothers, Daniel Powaltz and his wife Debbie of Forestburgh, NY and Donald Powaltz of Liberty, NY.

     Visitation for family and friends will be held from 2-4 PM & 7-9 PM Friday, Jan. 4th at the Cornelius, Dodd & Connell Funeral Home, 26 Grove St., Middletown, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 AM Saturday, Jan 5th at St. Joseph’s Church, 149 Cottage St., Middletown, NY. Interment will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Middletown.

    Memorial contributions in Donna’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000 Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908.

    Arrangements have been entrusted to the Cornelius, Dodd & Connell Funeral Home, Middletown, NY. 

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