Donato Joseph "Dan" DiDomenico

Boardman - There will be a Mass of Christian Burial held on Monday April 22, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Charles Borromeo Church,  Boardman, with Father Gerald Delucia officiating, preceded by a 10:30 a.m. prayer service at the Rossi & Santucci funeral Home, Boardman, for Donato Joseph “Dan” DiDomenco, 92 who passed away peacefully Wednesday morning, April 17, 2019 at Mercy Hospital Boardman with his loving daughter and two great grandchildren at his side. 

Dan will always be remembered and loved by his family and friends for his smile along with his caring and outgoing personality.

He was born November 4, 1926 in Bungara Italy, the son of Giovanni and Angelina DiDomenico and was raised in Bungara Italy.  As a young man he farmed the land and took care of his family as his father died at a young age. He followed other family members and came to the United States in 1947 residing in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. 

Donato heard the call of his country and on January 31, 1949 he began to fight for the freedom that we still have today, as a proud United States Army Veteran serving during the Korean War. He earned the rank of Private and served with the 5th Infantry Division. Also, while in Korea he served as a Military Police and had the honor of escorting General Eisenhower.  Dan was awarded the Korean Service Medal with Bronze Star and the Good Conduct Medal for his service to our country. Dan received and Honorable Discharge on January 30, 1950 at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Returning to Aliquippa, he began working in the steel mill.  When the Youngstown Steel Mill began to grow, he then moved to Youngstown and joined other family members.  It was then when he met his beautiful wife Dolores. 

Donato was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Church and an active member of Youngstown Morra League.    

Donato had many passions throughout his life. He was extremely proud of his Italian heritage and was able to travel to Bungara this past summer with his daughter to his family home. He enjoyed making a garden every year and canning with his wife along with making his homemade wine in addition to prosciutto.  Donato looked forward every month to playing morra and socializing with his friends and he just recently played on April 2, 2019. His greatest joys were his grandchildren and following them in baseball, basketball softball and swimming.  Besides his grandchildren the most precious to him were his great granddaughters Alayah and Julianah. 

His wife the former Dolores Rose Tesone whom he married April 7, 1956 died June 9, 2014.

He leaves to cherish his memories of his three children John (Natalie) DiDomenico, Cindy (Brian) Kubala and Joseph (Amy) DiDomenico, five grandchildren Ashley and Alex DiDomenico, Daniel, Marissa and Nicholas Kubala, two great granddaughters Alayah and Julianah, a nephew Bruno DiPiero of Bungara, Italy, two first cousins Lena (Bill) D’Andrea and Rita Pressley both of California and many nieces and nephews , cousins and friends.

Besides his parents, Donato is preceded in death by his wife and a sister Maria DiPiero.

Family and friends may pay their respects on Sunday, April 21, 2019 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and Monday morning, April 22, 2019 from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at the Rossi & Santucci Funeral Home, 4221 Market St., Boardman.

Burial will take place at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Boardman with military honors provided by the great men and woman of the United States Army.  

On behalf of Donato’s family, they would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to Dr Joseph Zeno, the nurses at Mercy Youngstown and Boardman, the staff at Assumption Village and to his personal care givers Iris and Pearl for all the care and compassion shown that was shown to Donato and them throughout this time.

Material contributions may be made in Donato’s name to Angels for Animals, 4750 W. South Range Rd. Canfield, Ohio 44406, Akron’s Children’s Hospital of the Mahoning Valley, 6505 Market St., Boardman, Ohio 44512 or St. Charles Borromeo Church, 7345 Westview Dr. Boardman, Ohio 44512.

 Family and friends may visit www.rossisantuccifh.com. to view this obituary, sign the guest book and send condolences to the DiDomenico family.

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