Dawn Monachino of Clarence typically drove 10 hours round-trip to Pennsylvania, every two weeks, to be with her mother, who has Alzheimer's disease.

That level of self-sacrifice was indicative of her.

“She was loving, caring and giving,” said Michael Monachino, her husband. “She was the one who would remember the tiniest thing that would be important to someone else. That’s what she brought to the marriage. She was the center of joy in my life.”

Dawn Monachino was from Carbondale, Pa., and graduated from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. She taught elementary school in her native state, as well as in South Carolina, before moving to Clarence after marrying in 1995.

Her dogs, a golden retriever named Lady and a chocolate lab named Shadow, were constant companions.

Monachino was a pharmaceutical representative at Schering-Plough Corp., and was coming back from Newark on a business trip along with Jennifer Neill, also of Clarence, who also perished on Flight 3407.

Michael Monachino said his wife and Neill were initially booked on the flight, switched to another flight, but then rebooked on the ill-fated plane ride.

-- Mark Sommer