Donna M. (Ravenola) August, 74, went to eternal life on May 24th. Born and raised in Enfield, Connecticut, she and her husband of 53 years, Richard “Dick” August, moved to Rhode Island in 1974. She is survived by a daughter, Melanie Cargilo, a teacher in Warwick, her husband Jeremy and their sons, Joshua and Brian and a son, Brig. Gen. Mark August, USAF, his wife Cristen and their four children, Sam, Ben, Casey and Caelie; a sister, Joanne Ehresman (John) in Connecticut and their daughter, Lori Arsenault and son, Michael Ehresman (Alice); and brother John Ravenola (Tatiana) in Florida. Another son, Army Captain Matthew August was killed in action in Iraq in 2004.
Donna was a communicant at St. Francis de Sales Church and served as a catechist in the religious education program and volunteer for the annual yard sale and golf tournament. She was the treasurer of the Rhode Island Gold Star Parents and member of the American Gold Star Mothers. For over 25 years, Donna was first a special needs aide in the North Kingstown School Department and then a guidance and library clerk at Davisville Middle School. Prior to that, she managed and gave lessons at a craft store in Wickford.
Visiting hours will be held 5-8 p.m. on May 27th at the Thomas & Walter Quinn Funeral Home, 2435 Warwick Ave, Warwick, RI. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on May 28th at 10 a.m. at St. Francis de Sales Church, 381 School Street, North Kingstown, RI. Interment following at Quidnessett Cemetery will be private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the CPT Matthew August Endowment Fund, c/o St. Francis de Sales Church; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or, Operation Stand Down RI, 1010 Hartford Ave., Johnston, RI 02919 will be appreciated. Information and condolences, visit theQuinnFuneralHome.com.
