Obituary of Donna L. Hainey
Donna Linda (Zuzzio) Hainey was born on December 15, 1942, in Plainfield, New Jersey to Joseph and Angela Zuzzio (both deceased) and passed on October 6, 2023, in San Jose, California. She had an older brother Leonard Zuzzio (deceased), and a younger sister Cheryl Grant. She graduated from Plainfield High School in Plainfield, NJ. She received her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Trenton State College in Trenton, NJ. She was a charter member of Delta Pi Epsilon. She was married to Robert Hainey for 57 years and had two children, Christa (Cormier) and Robert Hainey (deceased). She was a resident of New Jersey for 61 years living in North Plainfield and Branchburg, NJ.
Donna was a high school teacher and taught for thirty-one years. She was extremely passionate about teaching. She began her career teaching at Ridge High School in Basking Ridge, NJ, and ended her career teaching at West Windsor Plainsboro High School North and South in Plainsboro, NJ. She taught Business Education, Accounting One and Accounting Two, as well as International Business. She was a member of the Business Education National Honor Society and recipient of the 1990 NJ Governor’s Recognition Award. She was an exceptional teacher; her former students came back year in and year out to visit with her. She was also the lead instructor for the FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) club at her high school. She traveled with students all over New Jersey for competitions with championships taking place in Florida and other states. She so enjoyed going on these trips and seeing her students compete and do well!
She was a loving mother to her two children – Christa and Robert. They both meant the world to her, and they both loved her beyond measure. She supported her son’s many entrepreneurial endeavors with lots of guidance and honesty. She was her daughter’s guiding light, providing advice in addition to unending love and support.
She retired from teaching to take care of her first grandchild, moving to be closer to her daughter’s family in Medway, Massachusetts. In addition to taking care of her grandson, she joined many groups and clubs. She was on the board of the Medway Historical Society and was a member of the Friends of Choate Park. Donna volunteered for many Medway community activities yearly, including the Pumpkin Walk and Easter Egg Hunt. She especially enjoyed volunteering and having her three grandchildren participate.
In addition, she was a member of the court of St. Joseph Medway’s Catholic Daughters. She led many fund-raising events to benefit the church.
She very much enjoyed reading, walking, and playing bunco with friends. She loved her family, teaching, and her community. But her most favorite activity was being with her grandchildren; she saw them frequently and was a huge part of their lives.
After ten years in Medway, MA, Donna moved with her husband to Naples, Florida. She resided there for nine years and was part of the Women’s Group at St. William’s Parish, once again volunteering her time for fundraising activities. Her final years were spent in San Jose, California, so she could be closer to her daughter and grandchildren.
She will be so dearly missed by her daughter Christa Cormier; her son-in-law David Cormier; her three grandchildren (Cameron, Connor, and Carson); her husband, Robert Hainey; her beloved sister, Cheryl Grant, and brother-in-law, Arthur Grant, in addition to her nieces Lauren Cressman, Megan Grant, Meredith Grant, Andrea Graham, Cheryl Zuzzio, and Kimberly Fusca.
Her imprint will last forever, and she will never leave their hearts.
A private memorial for family only will be held on Tuesday, October 10th, 2023, at Alameda Family Funeral Home in Saratoga, CA, at 11:00 a.m.
A Mass will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Ann’s Church in Raritan, NJ, and her burial will take place immediately following the mass at Hillside Cemetery in Scotch Plains, NJ. A Luncheon will follow at Ferraro’s of Westfield.
