Kim Ann (Botti) Donovan, 58, passed away peacefully at Exeter Hospital in Exeter, NH on Tuesday, 4/22/14, with her younger sister, Karen, by her side after a recent and unexpected rapid decline in health. Kim had resided in Raymond, NH for the last seven years, and before that, was a 20+ year resident of Merrimac, Ma. with her late husband, Jerry W. Donovan.
Kim was born on May 27, 1955 in Lowell, Ma., and was the eldest daughter of the late Gerald T. Botti and the late Priscilla A. (Dodge) (Botti) Wright. Kim graduated from Lawrence High School, and received her Associate’s degree from Northern Essex Community College in Travel & Tourism. An expert travel agent of over 25 years, Kim most recently served as a Travel Counselor at Southern New England AAA in Lawrence, Ma. for the last year and a half; and before that as an Amtrak Reservation Specialist at Yankee Holiday Travel in Beverly, Ma. for over a decade. Kim’s greatest passions in life were spending time with her family, traveling the country, visiting national parks, nature and animals; and above all she was an avid New England sports fan. Her die-hard cheerful spirit will be missed this upcoming football season when the Patriots kick off.
She is survived by her two sisters, Karen (Botti) Mathieu-Johnson, and her husband Ronald, of Raymond, NH, and Joy (Botti) Mikkelsen, and her husband Uffe, of Alexandria, Va.; her beloved nephews: Brandon, Aaron, and Ethan Mathieu—all of Raymond, NH, Daniel Wood of Manchester, NH, and Brandon Johnson of Lake City, Fla.; her beloved nieces: Olivia and Tate Mikkelsen of Alexandria, Va., Sara Redmond of Sandown, NH, Kathleen Bacon of Hudson, NH, Heather Kempkes of Sandown, NH, Heidi McNeil of Sterling, NE, and Emily Hasse of Raymond, NH; three sisters-in-law: Jacquelyn & Douglas Wood of Salem, NH, Janice & Bob Kempkes of Sandown, NH, and Justine & Gerald LaRochelle and their three daughters of Windham, NH; two brothers-in-law, Serge Mathieu of Salem, NH and James Donovan of Merrimac, Ma.; and many loving cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends.
Memorial visitation will be MONDAY, April 28th from 4:30-6:30 PM, followed by a memorial service at 6:30 PM at the Douglas & Johnson Funeral Home, 214 Main St., Salem, NH. (There was an error in the Union Leader regarding the day of services.)
In lieu of flowers, donations in Kim’s name may be made to the Pope-Memorial SPCA of Concord-Merrimack County, 94 Silk Farm Rd., Concord, NH 03301. There will also be a celebration of Kim’s life and 59th birthday to be held at her sister Karen’s home in Raymond, NH on Saturday, May 24, 2014 at 2:30 pm.