Obituary of Giovanni (John) Donatelli

DONATELLI, Giovanni (John) It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Giovanni (John) Donatelli at the age of 93 on Thursday July 4th, 2013. Giovanni has gone to be with the Lord that he so truly loved and was devoted to. Loving husband of Rosa Donatelli for 64 years and loving Papa to Nino ( Laura) , John ( Linda) & Frank ( Sylvie) . He will be a dearly missed grandfather (Tatone) to seven grandchildren - Jonathon, Nina , Sarah, Gina, Michael, Carla and David . Cherished brother of Anna Le Donne ( the late Elio) and Irma Colangelo ( Domenico) , and predeceased by the late Michele (survived by wife Ida), Cotilda and Iolanda. Giovanni is also survived by dear brother and sister in law Maria and Cosmo D’Eramo . He will also be fondly remembered by many nieces, nephews and friends. Born in Ateleta, Italy in 1920 , Giovanni lived his whole life with a zeal for hard work and persevered through difficult and trying times. Farming on the family plot in Ateleta from a very early age, Giovanni was drafted in 1940 and served in WW2 with the Italian Fontaria Regimente 47th as a signalman. He served in Italy , Albania, Greece, and Yugoslavia until being captured and held as a POW for 2 years until the war ended in 1945. Giovanni married Rosa in 1948, and then emigrated to Canada in 1952 and was later rejoined by his wife and son Nino in 1953. Through the years, Giovanni worked at local farms and wineries , Canadian Marietta , Port Weller Dry docks and at Foster Wheeler . Giovanni was one of the original founding and long time members of Club Roma and also a member of the Combatenti Reduci . Giovanni will be proudly and lovingly remembered by his sons for teaching them the importance of having absolute trust in God and the proud meaning of family. He instilled the values of determination and doing the best one can do . “Fai il pui meglio che poi”. Family and friends will be received at the GEORGE DARTE FUNERAL CHAPEL, 585 Carlton Street, St. Catharines on Saturday, July 6th from 7-9 p.m. and Sunday, July 7th from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Vigil Prayers will be said in the funeral home on Sunday at 3pm.Funeral Liturgy will take place at St. Alfred's Church, 272 Vine Street, on Monday, July 8th at 10:30 a.m., with entombment to follow at Victoria Lawn Cemetery. Memorial donations to the Niagara Children's Centre or Heart & Stroke Foundation would be appreciated by the family.