Jerome (Jerry) J. Donovan of Monroe, a retired NYS Correctional Officer for 25 years and a 23-year resident of the area, passed away on Thursday, June 18, 2020, at home with his family. He was 68 years old.
The son of Mae (Havelka) Donovan and Jerome P. Donovan, he was born on Oct. 19, 1951, in the Bronx.
He loved fishing, playing cards, craps and his numbers, but most of all, he loved his bride, June Donovan, and his family. He enjoyed life and looked forward to his semi-annual trips with family.
He was “MacGyver” to all when things needed to be fixed and was a fighter who beat heart disease for 21 years, but his body ultimately succumbed to cancer.
He was a special man that will be terribly missed.
Jerry was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, uncle and friend.
He is survived by his wife June Opfer Donovan, his daughters Erica Donovan (Eddy), Nicole Donovan (Francesco) and and Denise Spina (Joseph). He is also survived by his granddaughter Isabella, soon to be grandson (September 2020) and grandpup Tyson.
Jerry is also survived by his siblings Frances Bianco, Dorothy Gandolfi and Kathleen Taylor (Barrett), sister and brothers-in-law Catherine McCarthy (Bill), Billy Opfer (Jane), Neil Opfer (Sharon), Jane Hahn (Hank), as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents and brothers-in-law John Bianco and Robert Gandolfi.
Visitation was held June 24 at Flynn Funeral & Cremation Memorial Centers, Inc., located at 139 Stage Road, Monroe.
The funeral home requires that all visitors to e-mail the funeral home (flynnoffice@gmail.com) prior to coming, include name, contact information and time slots requested; the funeral home attempts to work within the time constraints you request.
A Funeral Mass was offered June 25 at Sacred Heart Church located at 26 Still Road, Monroe.
Burial followed at Gate of Heaven Cemetery at Hawthorne, NY 10532.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his name to American Heart Association or Sacred Heart Parish Monroe.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Thomas F. Flynn and Brendan T. Flynn, licensed funeral directors, of Flynn Funeral & Cremation Memorial Centers, Inc.
To offer an online memorial, please visit www.flynnfh.com