Donna L (Caito) Corey

68, of Cranston, RI, formerly of Providence, RI, passed away Friday, January 19, 2024, as a result of complications following 13 years with Alzheimer’s Disease.

She leaves behind her husband, James J. (Jay) Corey of Cranston, RI, 3 children Shannon C. Corey and her husband, Michael, of Cranston, RI; Jessica L. (Corey) Retallack and her husband, Kyle, of Beverly, MA; James F. Corey and his wife, Amanda, of Exeter, RI. She also leaves behind a brother John F. Caito and his wife, Susan, of Putnam, CT; a sister Terri (Caito) Shaw and her partner, Ken, of Narragansett, RI; 3 grandchildren, Stanley, Piper and Sullivan; 5 additional sisters-in-law Barbara, Kathie, Laurie Peggy and Diane, and 1 brother-in-law, Rick. She also had numerous cousins, nieces, grandnieces, nephews and grandnephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Frank J. Caito. and Theresa M. (Rodio) Caito.

She graduated Mount Pleasant High School, Providence, RI in 1973. She received her Associates Degree from Rhode Island Junior College, Warwick, RI in 1975 and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from North Adams State College in 1978. She married Jay Corey in Blessed Sacrament Church, Providence, RI, 1979 and moved with him to Governors Island, in New York City, where Jay was stationed in the U.S. Coast Guard.

She taught at the Governors Island preschool for 2 years until they moved back to Rhode Island where Jay was transferred to the Coast Guard Reserve. They stayed in Providence for nine years where she raised her 3 children until they were of preschool age. In 1989, Donna started teaching again at The Little Shepherd Preschool in Cranston, RI. After 12 years there, in 2002, she moved on to St. Pius V school in Providence, RI again teaching preschool. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she established a theater program there which still thrives today. She was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s in 2011 yet maintained the capacity to continue teaching until 2014 when she retired from St Pius V school.

Donna was a member of Saint Pius V Parish with Jay in Providence, RI. She has always been a beacon of light to all of the people she met. Donna was always pleasant, she loved children and especially loved teaching children. She also loved singing, Walt Disney World, the theater, and above all else she loved her family. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Donna’s family for a wake on Thursday evening from 4-8 pm in the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory 1278 Park Avenue, Cranston. A funeral Mass celebrating Donna’s life will follow next day in Saint Pius V Church, 240 Eaton Street, Providence, RI, at 10am, leaving from Nardolillo Funeral Home at 9am. Burial will be in Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery, Exeter, RI. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Hope Alzheimer’s Center, 25 Brayton Ave., Cranston, RI 02920