Donna V. Combra

Donna V. Combra, 57, of Portsmouth, RI died peacefully at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, on Sunday, March 3, 2013, surrounded by her loving family. She was the wife of Russell E. Combra and the mother of Andrew and Brian Combra, all of Portsmouth, RI. Born in Newport on January 30, 1956, she was the daughter of Virginia (Botelho) Jennings of Newport, and the late Louis A. Vaillancourt Jr. Donna grew up in Newport and graduated from URI. Her career began at Cluny School in Newport and then as a teacher in Portsmouth until she retired in 2012. She taught and influenced young children for 30 years. She loved adventure, be it kayaking, swimming, walking, biking, or traveling. She also loved reading, baking, knitting, and being home with her family. She is survived by her husband Russell and her sons, Andrew and Brian, her mother Virginia Jennings and her husband Sid Jennings; as well as her sisters Karen Miller and her husband Michael of Middletown, Lynn Nevins of Swansea, MA, a brother Michael Vaillancourt and his wife Ann Marie, of Bristol; many aunts, uncles and cousins, and several nieces and nephews, especially Mary Jane Hladick, her husband Dean and their children Emma and Connor; a sister in law Lillian Lopes, and her many friends. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, March 7, 2013, from 5:00-8:00pm in the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Rd, Portsmouth. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 8, at 10:30 am at St. Barnabas Church, 1697 East Main Rd, Portsmouth. Burial will be private. Thinking of Donna's caring spirit, donations may be made in her memory to one of these organizations, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, RI Chapter, 1210 Pontiac Ave, Cranston, RI 02920; Hasbro Childrens Hospital, PO Box H, Providence, RI 02901; or to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284. Visitation MAR 7. 05:00 PM - 08:00 PM Connors Funeral Home 55 West Main Road Portsmouth, RI, US, 02871 info@memorialfuneralhome.com http://www.connorsfuneralhome.com Service MAR 8. 10:30 AM St. Barnabas Catholic Church 1697 East Main Road Portsmouth, RI, US