Donna L. Pastella Banas 1935-2024

Born Nov. 14, 1935, the oldest child of Frank and Julia Bucci Romito in Youngstown, being raised by Jim and her mother Julia, she graduated from Wilson High school in 1953. As a baby, Donna won a beauty contest.

Donna lived a very full life, given the health issues she had to endure for the last 30 years. Donna was the epitome of the Italian firecracker mother and grandmother; you never walked away hungry. Working hard most of her life, Donna accomplished many businesses throughout the Youngstown area. She loved her friends and treated them like they were her family. Donna enjoyed traveling with family on vacations, taking cross-country trips with friends and spending time on the slot machines at various casinos.

Donna’s legacy is more than enough for any good life, but how she made you feel whether it was feeding you, telling you stories, giving you hugs, just giving you one small Hershey kiss in exchange for a kiss, or just plain loving you in her way, made you feel loved just for knowing and loving her. Her love reached out to all her nieces and nephews, whom she cared for as much as her children, and her first friends in life, her cousins. For those who were lucky enough to be her friend, you were considered family to Donna.

Brandon, Joey, AJ, Michael and her aide, Jackie, the family thanks you for caring for her and know that she loved all of you.

She leaves behind her four children she loved and adored: daughters, Denise Coulter of Austintown and Dianna Cecchini (Gary) of Canfield; and sons, Anthony (Judy) Pastella of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Nicholas (Carrie) Pastella of Arizona.

If grandma Donna told you that you were her favorite, know that each and every one of us were HER favorite. Donna’s 14 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren were everything to her, and it’s what she lived for: James (Amanda) Creighton of Sylvania, with Tennesee, Fionnualagh and Kadence; Joseph (Marci) Salman of Canfield, with Faye, Farrah and Joseph III; Laylah (Thomas) Loiczly of Sarasota, Florida, with Maliyah, Charles, Dominic, Viola and Julian; Mathew (Kay) Krueger of Pittsburgh, with Genevieve and Matt; Jason (Jessica) Salman of Pittsburgh, with Jason, Isabella and Brock; Nicole Krueger of West Unity, with Chasity and Emmy; Nicholas (Ashely) Pastella of Stuthers, with Arieana and Gianna; Anthony (Patti) Pastella of Struthers, with Anthony, Mason and Maximus; Elyse (Ryan) Sevi of Fairborn, with Roman and Nolan; Kyle Krueger of Pittsburgh; Valeea (Lonnie) Pastella of Kingman, Arizona, with Erellina and Stella; Seth (Dena) Coulter of Austintown, with Alivia, Laura, LynAnn, Frankie and Charlie; Kip and Hunter Brake of Arizona; Joseph Banas of Las Vegas; Sandi (Vince) Oneil of Girard; and Joseph Banas Jr. of Las Vegas.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank Romito, Julia Bucci Romito and James Romito, who raised her; Carol Julian, her sister; her former husband, Anthony Pastella; many aunts, uncles and cousins; and her stepdaughter, Debbie Banas.

A celebration of life in Youngstown will be held at a later date.

Donna wanted to be laid to rest with her mother and sister in Lake Park Cemetery.

Donations can be made to any Hospice you choose.

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