Donna Andrea Cicchetti

October 4th, 1954 - July 25th, 2017

Memorial

Mementos

Loved Ones

I am home in Heaven, dear ones; Oh, so happy and so bright! There is perfect joy and beauty In this everlasting light. All the pain and grief is over, every restless tossing passed; I am now at peace forever, Safely home in Heaven at last. Did you wonder I so calmly trod the valley of the shade? Oh! but Jesus’ love illumined every dark and fearful glade. And He came Himself to meet me In that way so hard to tread; And with Jesus’ arm to lean on, Could I have one doubt or dread? Then you must not grieve so sorely, For I love you dearly still Try to look beyond earth’s shadows, Pray to trust our Father’s Will. There is work still waiting for you, So you must not idly stand; Do it now, while life remaineth ÂYou shall rest in Jesus’ land. When that work is all completed, He will gently call you Home; Oh, the rapture of that meeting, Oh, the joy to see you come!

Donna Andrea Cicchetti was a vibrant and beautiful poet, artist and dedicated care taker. She taught hundreds of students the joy of painting, as well as loved dance, music and animals. Her passion lives on forever in her works of art which are in the care of her only child Dea Varone.

Donna was born in 1954 in Bayside NY, and lived in Los Angles as a production artist from 1987-1989. Dedicating most of her life to her late mother Dorothy Cicchetti and her daughter who is still living in Raleigh NC, she had a great love for all animals and advocated a vegan lifestyle believed in not harming any of Gods living creatures'.

In the 80's she visited the beach often on Long Islands beautiful Hempstead Harbor as well as Jones Beach, being a young single mom at that time, also a social butterfly, she also enjoyed summer nights with her best friend Fran Biren who joined her often in the prestegous high end Channel 80 summer nights, listening to music like Billy Idol and Depesh Mode. Ballet and art were interests and she took classes in Roslyn for both.

At home in Flower Hill, Manhasset NY she was surrounded by rescuerd dogs and cats from the shelter Animal Haven, that her beloved mom Dorothy would often bring home animal for care and a home. It was also home to Donnas nieces and nephews, Dariel, DJ, David, Ricky, and Shannon amongst others in her extended family.

Her mom ran DAC Data also known as CSI Electronic on Port Boulevard in Port Washington. Her mother was involved in the Electronics Conventions which Donna and Dea attended with her across the country annually, and there they made friendships which include Gail Steckler and Wallace Harrison and their children Erin and Cameron, aswell as Deas childhood friend Jen Armbruster.

Later on Donna was in a relationship with the late Gary Kann who lived in a house boat on Manhasset isle in Port Washington NY, they lived and laughed often together.

After her mother Dorothy relocated and her daughter graduated from CW Post, they decided to join Dorothy in Raleigh NC.

Donna was involved with many facets of the art community at the Carter Building and First Fridays', shows at Carol Joyner Park and was showcased as a featured artist in the Wake Forest Newspaper as an instructor and painter.

In 2015 she became ill with kidney failure due to a tumor in her cervix, then and there after a scary procedure to save her life, she was given a cancer diagnosis, along with time frame of 6 months to two more years to live, and did in-fact thrive intermittently during the cancer treatments.

In her final days, summer of 2017, she was surrounded by friends family who travelled from Virginia, Ashville NC and Florida to support ans say goodbye to her. Her brother Orfeo Cicchetti said the rosary at her bedside daily and Laura Gusmano her best friend from Bayside NY thankfully made most of the financial contributions for the final arrangements for Donna though the City of Oaks and her resting place at the Pine Forest Memorial Gardens in Wake Forest.

Her daughter Dea used to visit weekly with her mom Dorothy until last summer 2020 when Dorothy caught the Covid 19 virus at the nursing facility and sadly died at the age of 101.

Dea is a design instructor for several colleges in North Carolina and wishes more than anything to share her memories with friends and family she thinks of so fondly.