Bill Text: NY J03123 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourning the death of Ramona Donatta Aviles, devoted matriarch, distinguished citizen and beloved member of her community

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-05-27 - ADOPTED [J03123 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J03123-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 3123

BY: Senator KENNEDY

        MOURNING  the  death  of  Ramona  Donatta  Aviles,
        devoted matriarch, distinguished citizen and beloved
        member of her community

  WHEREAS, It is with profound intent that this  Legislative  Body  is
moved to pay homage to a woman of indomitable faith and dedication whose
purposeful life and accomplishments will forever stand as a paradigm and
inspiration for others; and

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to give acclaim to
individuals  of great character whose lives exemplify the highest ideals
of humanity; and

  WHEREAS, Ramona Donatta Aviles of Buffalo, New York, passed away  on
Tuesday, March 24, 2020, at the age of 96; and

  WHEREAS,  Ramona  Donatta  Rodriguez was born on August 31, 1923, in
Anasco, Puerto Rico, where she attended school  seasonally,  up  to  the
third  grade; after the unfortunate death of her mother during the Great
Depression, she became responsible for herself and  was  separated  from
her six siblings; and

  WHEREAS,  As  a  young  woman  on  her own, Ramona Donatta Rodriguez
supported herself by working as a servant and a maid; and

  WHEREAS, In the 1950s, Ramona Donatta Rodriguez moved  to  New  York
City,  and  lived  in  a neighborhood with her fellow Puerto Ricans; she
married her husband, Juan, and together, they settled in the Lower  East
Side of Manhattan; and

  WHEREAS,  Tragically,  history  seemed  to  repeat  itself as Ramona
Donatta Aviles' beloved husband died at the young age of 40, and she was
left to raise her seven children; and

  WHEREAS, Ramona Donatta Aviles remained steadfast in her  faith  and
attended  her  local  Pentecostal  church  daily;  she humbly encouraged
others to attend as well and would bring children of other  families  if
their parents were not able; and

  WHEREAS,  On  Wednesday,  August  28,  1963,  Ramona  Donatta Aviles
proudly boarded a bus with her son and fellow congregants  and  rode  to
Washington  D.C.  in  support  of  the  March on Washington for Jobs and
Freedom; as she listened to Martin Luther King Jr. deliver his  historic
"I  Have  a  Dream"  speech, she envisioned a better and safer world for
both her children and all those who felt the stigma of racism; and

  WHEREAS, In the mid-1990s, Ramona Donatta Aviles  moved  to  Buffalo
where  she  attended church and the senior center at Hispanics United of
Buffalo;  upon  losing  her  eyesight,  she  lived  independently  in  a
residence for the blind and disabled; every Sunday, she enjoyed spending
time  with  her  cherished  grandchildren as they listened to the church
sermon on the radio; and

  WHEREAS, Through Ramona Donatta  Aviles'  good  works,  wisdom,  and
compassion,  her sons and daughters have gone on to devote themselves to
serving their community, making it a better  place  to  live,  work  and
play; and

  WHEREAS,  Predeceased  by her mother and her husband, Ramona Donatta
Aviles is survived by her  seven  children,  15  grandchildren,  and  30
great-grandchildren,  as  well as numerous friends who will long cherish
her memory; and

  WHEREAS, Our society is greatly benefited by the purposeful  efforts
of  individuals who unite for the cause of improving the quality of life
for others, and who proactively work toward the goal of dignity for all;
and

  WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a  sense  of
compassion, Ramona Donatta Aviles leaves behind a legacy which will long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
she served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn  the  death  of  Ramona   Donatta   Aviles,   devoted   matriarch,
distinguished  citizen  and  beloved  member of her community; and be it
further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the family of Ramona Donatta Aviles.