Widow recalls words of love

Jenna Donaggio will cherish memories of the man of her dreams. Photo / APN

The night before he was killed, Nello Donaggio reaffirmed his love for his wife - and they spoke of their plans for a family.

The following day, a week ago last Friday, Mr Donaggio died after he fell about 200m over rocks while snowboarding at Mt Hutt.

The 30-year-old business account manager was flown to Christchurch Hospital but died from his injuries.

Now his 25-year-old widow says she will cherish that last special night forever.

Jenna Donaggio said the night was filled with deep conversation about their lives and how much they loved each other.

"Thursday was a beautiful night and I'll remember it forever. It was a night God gave me," she said.

She said they were planning to sell their house in the spring and live near the beach where they could surf after work - a sport they both loved. Mrs Donaggio said her husband's death had not put her off giving snowboarding a go.

"That was one thing I was working myself up to. I had a friend that had an accident on the mountain and that kind of put me off a bit."

But she credited her husband with always challenging her to step out of her comfort zone.

She usually tried making him more responsible, she said.

Mrs Donaggio said she had no regrets, and the couple often told each other several times a day "I love you".

"I knew he adored me," she said.

Mrs Donaggio described her husband as her best friend and her "prince and my prize".

He proposed by cooking her a dinner at his parents' house, and their wedding day, in January 2006, was "the best day of my life".

"I was so excited I married the man of my dreams.

"Our wedding day was incredible ... I wanted to spend my life growing old together."

She said his eyes always sparkled - usually when he was up to something mischievous.

The couple had also talked about starting a family together.

"My life experiences would've only been half of what they were if it weren't for him," she said.

She said Mr Donaggio was the kind of guy who "gave anything a go. He had a big passion for life and people".

Hundreds of mourners gathered at the First Mobile employee's funeral at Christchurch's Spreydon Baptist Church last Wednesday to pay their respects.

Mr Donaggio's death was the fourth fatality at Mt Hutt this year.

The family asked people to donate to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

Mt Hutt Ski Area manager David Wilson said Mr Donaggio was not wearing a helmet at the time of the fall.

He said they would conduct an internal investigation and work with any external investigation.

- APN