Donna C. Caravano

Donna Caprio Caravano, 76, was born July 30, 1945. Donna entered into eternal rest on October 29, 2021, at her home surrounded by her family.   Donna was a lifelong resident of Linden until retiring to Little Egg Harbor in  2004 . Donna was a stay at home mom up until her children went to school and then was a hostess/manager at the Cafe at the Holiday Inn Jetport in Elizabeth.  A house fire propelled her into a second career where she became a dispatcher for the City of Linden Fire and Police Departments. In her later years she shifted back to the career that she was most comfortable as a hostess for Applebee’s in Linden and Manahawkin where she spent 15 years as a hostess/trainer, always smiling and greeting her regular customers  However, her greatest accomplishment was raising three strong capable women who she was very proud of and boasted about often.  She loved having a house full of friends and family to cook delicious meals for them all.  She also showed her daughters how to manage money and would always say, “she could squeeze the buffalo off the nickel!” As an only child to Cecila she had many friends that were more like sisters and enjoyed traveling with them and going to the best restaurants.   A role model for her daughters, Donna, affectionately called the “Duke” for her “take charge” qualities, was a strong fighter that battled and gave ALS disease a run for its money.  Even in the end, ALS could not slow her down from going to Atlantic City, getting her nails and hair done, and sharing dinner with friends and family.  She truly was living proof that people can do hard things. 

Surviving are her two daughters Debra Berko, formerly of Las Vegas and currently of Little Egg Harbor, JoAnn Donachy of Bayville, son in law Thomas Donachy, Granddaughters Courtney Tartamella, Sarah Donachy and Grandson Tommy Donachy.  Also, surviving is Jerry Talbert, her companion and love of her life for many years.  She is predeceased by Gina Valentine, her daughter and Celicia Miller Caprio, her mother. 

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 from 2pm – 4pm & 7pm – 9pm at Mastapeter Memorial Home, 270 Atlantic City Blvd. Bayville, NJ 08721. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, November 3, 2021 at 11:00am at St. Barnabas Church, 33 Woodland Road, Bayville, NJ 08721.  Burial will immediately follow at St. Gertrude Cemetery in Colonia. 

All donations should go to the Joan Dancy ALS Foundation, One Riverview Plaza, PO Box 8157 Red Bank, NJ 07701 in her memory. It is an organization that gave her and her family much comfort and support in the last days of her life.

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