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.
