Donna Marie Bilyou, 73, of Hurley, passed away on Friday, October 23, 2026, at Westchester Medical Center. Born on March 20, 1953, in Kingston, New York, she was the daughter of the late Matthew Anthony Pisano and Mary Rose “Nanna” Pisano.

Donna spent much of her childhood living on DeWitt Mills Road in Hurley, where she formed deep roots in the community that would remain with her throughout her life. In 1974, she married Joseph Bilyou, and together they built a house just a mile away on Zandhoek Road. For more than five decades, they filled their home with family, laughter, traditions, gardens, and countless cherished memories.

Donna devoted her entire career to working with children and students. She spent the first half of her career as a Teaching Assistant at Ulster BOCES and the latter half working at the Ulster County Community College Daycare Center and in the Myer School cafeteria. Throughout her career, Donna touched the lives of hundreds of children who brought a smile to her face each day. She remained in contact with many of her former students long after they had left school and continued to be a caring and encouraging presence in their lives.

Donna and Joe shared a passion for cooking and preserving. For decades, they made homemade jellies and jams, participated annually in the Ulster County Fair, and sold their creations in boutique shops throughout the area. Nothing brought Donna more joy, aside from her grandbabies, than seeing people enjoy the jellies, jams, and food that she and Joe had lovingly made together.

Donna was an avid gardener whose yard, at times, contained more gardens than grass. Whether she was planting in traditional beds, raised planters, old wheelbarrows, or repurposed wine barrels, she was always ready to try a new gardening or upcycling project. Even as she grew older, she and Joe continued planting together, finding creative ways to keep their gardens growing.

Donna also loved quilting and knitting blankets for others. The moment she learned that a friend or family member was expecting a baby, she sprang into action, determined to have a handmade quilt ready before the baby arrived. She also created a unique quilt for each of her grandchildren, giving them something made especially for them that each will always cherish. Above all else, Donna was devoted to her family.

She never missed sending a birthday card and was often up early so she could be the first to call and sing “Happy Birthday.” She sent cookies and treats for Halloween, Valentine’s Day, and Thanksgiving. Her beloved sugar cookies, known simply as “Nonni’s sugar cookies,” became a cherished family tradition. The only thing that made them more special was when she made them alongside her grandchildren.

Even when distance separated Donna from those she loved, she found ways to remain close. Although her daughter Jessica lived out of state, they shared countless walks over the phone. As Jessica walked her dog, she and Donna would talk so that, despite the miles between them, they could still take a walk together. Being “Nonni” was one of the greatest joys of Donna’s life. She treasured the time she spent with her grandchildren, whether they were baking cookies, playing Candy Crush, sharing stories, or gathering to watch old Westerns on television. Her love for her grandbabies knew no bounds, and the memories they created together will remain forever in their hearts.

Donna is survived by her beloved husband, Joseph Bilyou; her son, Jason Bilyou and his wife, Angela, and their children, Alexander Bonaventure and Dominick Gianni; her daughter, Jessica Solger and her husband, Jim, and their children, Evan James, Emma Anne Marie, and Lilyana Sophia; her brothers, Matthew Pisano and his wife, Gail, Patrick Pisano and his wife, Leigh, and Mark Pisano; as well as many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, former students, dear friends, and extended family members.

Donna’s legacy lives on in the children she nurtured, the gardens she planted, the quilts she stitched, the traditions she created, the food she shared, and the family she loved beyond measure. Whether through a handmade quilt, a birthday song, a tray of sugar cookies, a jar of jam, or a walk shared over the phone, Donna had an extraordinary gift for making people feel remembered and loved. She will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever held in the hearts of all who knew her.