Donna M. (Kapchus) Guidara passed away at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers on May 2, 2012. She was 64 years of age. Donna was born in Boston on June 1, 1947 and was raised in East Boston. She graduated from Sacred Heart High School, Merrimack College and received her Master's in education from Cambridge College. Mrs. Guidara lived in Wakefield for several years before moving to Stoneham 40 years ago. Donna was an ESL teacher for the Malden Public schools working at the Forestdale Elementary School for over 14 years. Donna loved teaching ESL and the many students whose lives she helped to enrich each day in her classroom. During three difficult bouts with cancer since age 36, she always remained strong, upbeat and resilient, an inspiration to all she knew. Donna often counseled other cancer patients and helped them through the difficult days. Every year, she and her daughter, Alyssa, walked the Three Mile Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk to raise funds to help fight breast cancer. She loved frequenting art and historical museums, attending the opera, gourmet cooking and baking, reading fiction, and spending lots of time with family and many close friends. Donna was the beloved wife of 42 years to John P. Guidara. Loving mother of Keith M. Guidara & his wife Nicole of Winchester and Alyssa M. Moog & her husband Jonathan of Chicago, IL. Cherished daughter of Theresa (Bavaro) Kapchus of Melrose and the late Alphonse Kapchus. Proud grandmother of Justin C. Guidara. Loving sister of Paul Kapchus & his wife Deb of Enfield, CT and sister-in-law of Elizabeth & David Hart of Andover. Also survived by 1 niece and 4 nephews. Funeral from the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St. Melrose on Monday, May 7th at 8:45AM. A Mass of Christian Burial in Donna's honor will be held at St. Patrick Church, 71 Central St. Stoneham, at 10AM. Relatives & friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours Sunday from 2:00-6:00PM. Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden.