Donna Mara Resten

Donna Mara Resten, 67, passed away on May 21, 2024, in Westwood, Massachusetts, surrounded by her husband Paul, loving family and private aid, after her heroic battle with Young Onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Born January 12, 1957and raised in Quincy, Massachusetts  she was the daughter of the late Paul J. and Marion M. (Russo) Ricca. Donna took an interest in fashion at an early age, learning how to sew and winning competitions for her completed pieces and later in life would win again with beautiful costumes sewn from scratch for her daughter and niece. Donna attended St John’s Elementary and Middle School and Archbishop Williams High School in Braintree, Massachusetts, where she participated in extracurriculars and showed lots of school spirit, often bringing her younger brother along to football games to cheer on the Archie Bills Bishops!  

After her graduation from Archbishop Williams with the class of 1975, Donna enrolled at Aquinas College in Milton, Massachusetts where her passion for design and clothing led to her receiving her Associate’s Degree  in Fashion Merchandising in 1977. Donna remained in Milton after graduation, sharing an apartment with friends which affectionately came to be known as “The East Milton Hilton”. It was during this time, she began her career in fashion merchandising at Filenes as a department manager and buyer, and then CollegeTown, a local women’s sportwear manufacturer based in Braintree, where she worked as a Trim Buyer, sourcing zippers, buttons, and belts for the clothing being designed

In the summer of 1979 while weekending  on Cape Cod with friends, Donna found herself in a predicament and was assisted by someone standing nearby. Paul Resten was instantly enchanted with Donna and they made plans to meet again on the beach the next day. Come  that fall Donna and Paul were a steady pair. Donna married the love of her life, Paul J. Resten, on September 25th, 1982, in the Saint John the Baptist Church in Quincy. The newlyweds made their married home on Prince Street in Boston’s North End enjoying the buzz of city life not to mention the many restaurants the pair loved to frequent .

Donna, stepping forward in her career became a Capital Equipment Buyer at Mass General Hospital and simultaneously a career promotion for Paul brought them to Merrimack, New Hampshire. Shortly thereafter, they built a home in  Manchester, New Hampshire, where they would welcome their first child, beautiful Amanda. Another career promotion would entice the family to relocate again, this time to Saratoga, New York. Donna's young family grew two more times with the additions of Joseph and then a few years later Jeffrey. 

In 1993, after seven and a half years of living in New York, Donna and her family returned to Massachusetts, making their home in the growing  town of Franklin. Donna was thrilled  to be back in Massachusetts, as the one thing that was missing in her life was the geographic closeness to her family. Growing up in a close knit household with 5 siblings she loved that their children would be able to grow up with their grandparents, cherished aunts, uncles and extended family close by. 

Family was incredibly important to Donna, and her overriding passion was being a mother. She left her career behind to focus on that alone, and as the children grew Donna would spend countless hours being a wife and mother and volunteering at schools, attending dance recitals, swimming lessons, and sporting events for her three wonderful children, showing her support and beaming with pride at their accomplishments. What Amanda, Joe and Jeff have become as young adults is an enduring testament to the mother Donna was.  

As her children grew older, Donna returned to her education, attending Bentley College in Waltham, Massachusetts, and then Northeastern University taking classes in accounting and business. The knowledge gained from her education provided her with the skills necessary to take a position as business manager with Forge Hill Senior Living in Franklin. In 2008, moved forward in her career Donna accepted a position with RP Marzilli and Company in Medway, Massachusetts as a bookkeeper/ accounting manager, which she remained in for over a decade.

Donna and Paul's first chapter together began on the Cape in the late 1970’s and in 2013 they would start a new chapter on the cape with the purchase of a vacation home in the New Seabury community of Mashpee. Donna loved to spend time at their home on the Cape, taking the opportunity to relax at the beach or kayaking on Fells Pond or on long walks with Paul and the dog talking with neighbors along the way. She enjoyed shopping at Mashpee Commons and ending many days by the firepit with family and neighbors, or at one of her favorite local restaurants. 

In 2018, Donna and Paul sold their home in Franklin with the intent to retire and live full time on the Cape. A subsequent decision to live closer to the city for her medical care was made after a melanoma diagnosis which came on the heels of her Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and the pair purchased a condo in Walpole, Massachusetts. Donna received care at the world class Dana Farber Cancer Center for 18 months, keeping her bright outlook with nary a complaint through 3 surgeries and 13 months of immunotherapy infusions.

Donna was truly a caring and gentle soul, and in her free time enjoyed spending time with family and friends or getting lost in the pages of a  good book, watching her favorite TV shows- Greys Anatomy, Friends or Ellen  She loved to cook, entertain and host holiday parties, always creating a welcoming atmosphere. Donna was by nature the type of friend others loved to be with, and whether it was the North End, Manchester, Saratoga, Franklin, Mashpee, Walpole, her workplaces, or at Bridges in Westwood, Donna was an endearing presence and became a true friend for life to many. She also possessed an understated sense of humor and was quick with an unexpected quip or funny comment delivered in her sweet and unassuming way. Somehow through the dark days of her heath battle’s Donna was able to tame the disease enough to retain her sweetness, charm and sense of humor. Donna also had a soft spot for smaller dogs, always having a furry family member in tow. In addition to their home on the Cape, Donna enjoyed traveling to Palm Beach Shores in Florida where she and Paul owned a time share. They were joined  by family very often and countless hours were spent by the pool or enjoying the warm sandy shores before heading out for a shopping trip or a  dinner with some dear friends who lived in Florida.  Donna enjoyed cooking with Chicken Marsala being a family favorite. She also had a renowned sweet tooth. Cookies , brownies, cheesecake, you name it – and Donna having a brownie for breakfast was a regular occurrence. Maybe next time you are considering skipping dessert, have something sweet in memory of Donna.

Beloved wife of Paul J. Resten 

Loving mother of Amanda M. Resten, and her companion Adam Hockensmith, of Providence, Rhode Island, Joseph P. Resten, and his wife Patricia, of Foxborough, and Jeffrey A. Resten, and his companion Cory Mains, of South Boston

Cherished sister of Janice Uvanitte, and her husband Dan, of Bridgewater, Susan Gustin, and her late husband William, of Hanover, Marianne Ricca of Weymouth, Paula Chambers, and her husband Dana, of Abington, Michael Ricca of South Boston, Joanne Carleton of Plymouth, James Resteghini of Dedham, and the late Joseph Resti.

Also survived by her cousin Joanne Ricca, as well as many other loving cousins, nieces, and nephews. She will be dearly missed by her beloved Maltese, Ziggy.

The Resten family would like to thank and acknowledge the loving care provided by Donna's private aid, Patti Janiszewski. Her support for Donna during her struggle with Alzheimer’s disease was immeasurable and words cannot properly express the family’s appreciation. In addition we note the wonderful care from Hospice Services of MA, and the many staff members at Bridges in Westwood who cared for and grew to love Donna and she (and family) to love them. Lastly there wasn’t a day that went by that a family member or friends from near or far weren’t spending time with Donna during her life in memory care. This endearing love, companionship and care for Donna is forever etched in Donna’s and all of the Resten’s hearts and souls.    

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Donna's Life Celebration on Wednesday, May 29th, 2024, from 4:00 - 7:00 PM in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, May 30th, 2024, at 10:30 AM in Saint Mary's of the Assumption Church, 420 High Street in Dedham, Massachusetts. Interment will take place privately at the Mayflower Cemetery in Duxbury, Massachusetts.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks if you would join the fight against the Alzheimer’s disease. Donations in Donna's honor may be made to “Team Donna Resten” by visiting

http://act.alz.org/goto/donnaresten

If you prefer to mail a donation please direct those to:

Alzheimer's Association MA/NH

Attn: Neponset Valley Walk/Donna Resten

320 Nevada Street, Suite 201

Newton, MA 02460

Also the Neponset Valley Walk to End Alzheimer’s will take place at Patriot Place in the fall of this year and the date will be announced soon.   

Friends and relatives are additionally invited to join Donna’s family for a memorial celebration on Sunday, June 23rd, 2024, at 4:00 pm at Davio's Restaurant, 236 Patriot Place in Foxborough, Massachusetts.