×

Judith A. Donadio, 1934-2020

PORT ORANGE, Fla. — Judith Arlene Fagnano Donadio crossed from life to eternal life on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, after a brief illness, in Port Orange, Florida.

Born on Sept. 14, 1934, she was the daughter of James and Margaret Luarde Fagnano, and wife of Raymond M. Donadio, Sr., all of Niles.

Judy was a strong Christian woman of Catholic faith, raised in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Niles. She lived passionately for her six children, 19 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren (with two more “on the way”). Judy graduated from Niles McKinley High School in 1952.

Though she was employed in diverse roles throughout her career, many of which were alongside her children supporting them in their careers, the role she lived most proudly was serving her family as homemaker — cooking, sewing, crocheting, crafting and creating an environment of love, centering her life around the life of her husband, and her children and their families.

She served her community in many ways, including women’s Bible studies, school PTAs, Niles McKinley Band Boosters, Niles McKinley Speech Team, The American Field Service (student exchange program), hosting students from around the world, and curator of the museum inside Niles Historical Society’s Ward Thomas Home. In her short time as a resident of Florida, she quickly built a reputation as “Mayor” of The Heritage Waterside, a retirement community in Port Orange, Florida.

Judy’s desire, in jest, but with a deep-seated amount of truth, was to live in a mansion big enough to have a section for each family unit that she could visit on a whim. She would frequently remind each of her children of this. Jesus is recorded as saying, “In my Father’s house are many rooms.” (John 14:2a) Judy has no doubt already “put in her application” to help prepare a place for her loved ones she left behind.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray; her father, James; mother, Margaret; stepfather, Daniel Marchionte; brother, James Fagnano, Jr.; and granddaughter, Lindsay Rose Donadio.

Her children, remaining to carry on her legacy along with their children and grandchildren, are: Raymond M. Donadio, Jr. and his wife Deb of Port Orange, Florida; James Donadio and his wife Karen of Warren; Judi Saulino and her husband Dom of Marietta, Ga.; Tom Donadio and his wife Anita of Champion; Lisa Donadio of Branson, Mo.; and Chris Donadio and his wife Kelly of Wesley Chapel, North Carolina.

And she was loved dearly by many in her extended family, including her cousins, many nieces, nephews, great nieces-and-nephews, and her husband’s surviving sisters and brother-in-law, as well as church families from across the Mahoning Valley, and many friends with whom Judy was intentional about remaining connected.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Niles, where social distancing and facial coverings are required.

Burial will be in Niles City Cemetery alongside her late husband.

Arrangements are being handled by the Joseph Rossi and Sons Funeral Home in Niles.

Family and friends can visit www.josephrossifuneralhome.com to view this obituary and send condolences to Judy’s family

(special notice)