Caroline Camposano Donaway 1950 - 2016

CAMPOSANO, DONAWAY

Posted By: Connie Swearingen - volunteer (email)
Date: 6/24/2016 at 05:45:57

Sioux City Journal
23 June 2016

SIOUX CITY | Caroline Camposano Donaway of Sioux City died on June 21, 2016, at home with her family around her.

Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Immaculate Conception Church in Morningside. The body is to be cremated. Arrangements are under the direction of Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.

She was born in Sioux City, on Dec. 29, 1950, first daughter of the late Manual and Joan Camposano of Sioux City. When she was six months old, she and her family moved to Chile as her father had business interests there. Spanish was her first language. She was truly bi-lingual. Later they moved to Lima, Peru, where they lived for several years. Her sister, Elizabeth was born in Sioux City, Patricia in New Jersey and Joanie in Lima, Peru.

While living in South America, Caroline learned and loved the art and sport of show horse jumping. She made her first jump at eight years of age and continued to ride until her death. Her love for all animals was great.

Her family returned to Sioux City in 1965. Caroline was enrolled at East High School and graduated in 1969. She spent a year at the College of St. Catherine's in St. Paul, Minn. She came back to Sioux City for the summer and worked at Walgreen's where she met her future husband, Richard Donaway.

They were married on Jan. 20, 1973, at Immaculate Conception Church in Sioux City. They moved to Racine, Wis., where her husband managed a Walgreen's store. They returned to Sioux City that summer and had lived here ever since. As time permitted, she and her husband would return to Chile for visits with her extended family. In November 1984, we had our one and only child, a daughter, Erin. My mom was the most amazing and giving person to be friends with. In 2008, Erin had her only son and Caroline's only grandson, Connor, they had been inseparable since day one and until her last breath. Caroline spoke to him only in Spanish, he always answered in English.

Caroline earned her bachelor's degree from Briar Cliff College majoring in Spanish and French and a year later started to teach Spanish at East High School. She and her students took many trips to Mexico and Spain. In 1980, she was made a head teacher and started the English as a Second Language Program in the Sioux City Public Schools. Named director, Migrant Education Program, Caroline spent several weeks in Guadalajara, Mexico, observing social service programs.

She held a master educator license, ESL Endorsement K-12, REACH National certification, National Multicultural Institute trainer, and Institute of Cultural Affairs trainer. She belonged to several organizations including SHIP, board of directors, Sioux City Community Committee, Mary Treglia board of directors, Child Welfare Community Collaboration Team, Iowa Cultural and Language Conference, Delta Kappa Gamma, Tesol, Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. She received Lifetime Achievement Award, Siouxland Unidad Latina, Human Rights Day Award, State of Iowa Governor’s Volunteer award, Woman of Excellence Award, and Human Rights Award along with the Jefferson Medallion. She also served as a member of Junior League, Catholic Charities, Police Gang Task Force, and as a Spanish court interpreter. While teaching, she was able to fly to Florida on a tanker from the 185th Refueling Wing as a guest of the Air Force as she had a few students qualify to join the Air Guard.

She retired in 2009 after 34 years with the Sioux City School District. Caroline then started teaching at Morningside College instructing master's level certification in ESL. She was then asked to teach Spanish again at the South Sioux Community High School where she was employed at the time of her death after a two-year fight with ovarian cancer.

She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Dick; their daughter, Erin; a grandson, Connor; three sisters, Elizabeth and George Skaff of Tuscon, Ariz., Patricia Milligan widow of Samuel Milligan of Rogers, Ark., and Joanie and Michael Russell of Tucson; seven nieces; five grandnephews; four grandnieces; her cousin, Marc and Marsha LaDue of Sioux City; and Marc's mother, Sabina of Stuttgart, Germany. In Chile she had 34 first cousins.

She would give of herself and expect nothing in return. See you later.

Contributions may be made in her memory.