Eve Lynne Donigian, 71, of Sandy Hook died August 10, after a brave but short six-week battle with brain cancer — glioblastoma multiforme. Her motto throughout her short and courageous battle was always, “Let’s kick those tumors!” Ms Donigian celebrated her 71st birthday May 31. 

Born in Staten Island, N.Y., she had a wonderful childhood as the oldest of three siblings. She loved her time spent on her family’s farm, Chrampanis Farm, where she helped work at the farm stand as a young girl, inspiring the master gardener in her, which she later became. She also loved going to school.

She excelled at Port Richmond High School, graduating in 1962 and heading to Elmira College in New York. She was president of the graduating class of Elmira College in 1966, and has since loved planning and attending the elaborate reunions that the college hosts. The wonderful and everlasting friendships made at Elmira College were something that Ms Donigian cherished. She was most looking forward to planning and attending her 50th year reunion, to be held next June. Her alumni friends said she will have her own special place at the reunion, as without a doubt, she will be there in spirit.

Upon graduation from Elmira College, Eve realized her love of languages, and chose to attend Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vt. She earned her master’s degree there, graduating in 1968. She had the opportunity to travel and live in Spain multiple times through the Middlebury Immersion program, and also met the love of her life, David, through the same program. Together, they made many wonderful memories and friendships in Spain. 

They were married July 26, 1970, at Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in Staten Island. Their wedding is remembered by many for the wonderful Greek music and dancing and love. This year was their 45th wedding anniversary. 

Ms Donigian’s love of languages brought her on a journey that would inspire the lives of many young students. She loved teaching and looked forward to each new school year. She began her teaching career in Bay Shore, Long Island, before teaching Spanish (and French) as the department chair at Wilton High School for 35 years, retiring in 2005. Her passion for languages and appreciation for different cultures would take her to Greece, Spain, Portugal, France, Russia, Morocco, Mexico, and South America. Her students remember her for her kind personality, inviting classroom, and her passion for their success in learning a second language and life. Tributes from her former students, family and friends can be found on her Caringbridge website, www.caringbridge.org/visit/evedonigian.

Ms Donigian looked forward to retiring, for now she had the time to do whatever she felt like doing. Since retiring, she kept a journal detailing all of her accomplishments, including which books she had read, listed year by year, which movies she had seen, and other events in which she had participated. She said she loved seeing the pages in her retirement journal fill up, as it showed the many different things she absolutely loved to do and had been waiting to do her entire life. 

As a voracious reader, she joined multiple book clubs in Newtown, was a member of the Newtown Woman’s Club, the Philoptochos Women’s Club (a philanthropic association at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church), an advanced Italian class, volunteered reading to toddlers at Newtown Congregational Church, and, more recently, helped teach Spanish to Trinity Church congregants who headed to El Salvador this spring. She also ensured that the residents and patients at Masonicare in Newtown had the ability to read, starting a program where large print books were part of the reading program there, and volunteered at the Masonicare Café.

She used time in retirement to travel to England with her husband, work in her gardens, get together with friends, and enjoy her grandchildren. Together in their Sandy Hook home, the Donigians hosted large Thanksgiving dinners for family and friends, retirement parties for colleagues, birthday parties, bridal showers, and baby showers. Their home was always the destination for celebrating with Armenian and Greek foods, friends, and love. 

Ms Donigian was known for her always-positive attitude, her sparkling smile, and warm eyes, and how welcome she made everyone feel. 

Her devoted husband; two loving children, Christina and Matthew, both of Monroe; her son-in-law Thomas; daughter-in-law Andrea; her mother, Fannie Chrampanis of Staten Island; her sisters Georgia Chrampanis Peterson of Dunellen, N.J., and Dessie Henion of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; four nieces and one nephew; several cousins, aunts, and uncles; and her many, many friends whom she deeply cherished survive Ms Donigian. Her adoring grandchildren, 2-year-old Olivia, 2-year-old Michael, and 7-month-old Sophia, are missing their “Yia-Yia” (Grandmother in Greek) dearly. Her devoted rescued granddogs also survive Ms Donigian. Her father, Louis Chrampanis; and her in-laws, Harry and Elsie Donigian, predeceased her. 

The Donigian family will receive visitors at Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown, on Wednesday, August 12, from 5 to 7 pm. The Greek Trisagion prayer service will take place at 5:30 pm. Funeral services will take place at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 30 Clapboard Ridge Road, Danbury, Thursday, August 13, at 10:30 am, with burial following at Zoar Cemetery, 53 Berkshire Road, in Sandy Hook. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 30 Clapboard Ridge Road, Danbury CT 06810 and/or Regional Hospice and Home Care of Western Connecticut, 30 Milestone Road, Danbury CT 06810.