Obituary of Dona L. Granata

On New Year’s Day 2022, Dona (Lohneiss) Granata of East Hartford CT, loving mother and grandmother, passed away at the age of 91. Dona was born in Middletown, CT, on March 7, 1930, to the late Andrew and Frances (Dooley) Lohneiss. In 1950, she graduated from St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing, Hartford, CT. She was a private duty nurse at St. Francis Hospital for forty-three years. Dona met her future husband Bill when he was her patient. They enjoyed a happy and loving marriage for forty-two years, raising four children together. Her family was her greatest joy.

Dona was an accomplished seamstress, making many of her own outfits, christening gowns for each of her grandchildren, and baptismal bibs for her church. She was a woman of strong faith and was a long-time parishioner of St. Mary’s Church. She was the unofficial medical “consultant” for family and neighbors. Dona was an avid reader, a loyal fan of the UConn Women’s Basketball team, and an even bigger fan of hot fudge sundaes.

Dona is survived by her four children: Mary Machell, Donna Tracey (Michael), Jeanne Johnson (Harry), and William J. Granata III (Sharon); and by her eight grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her sisters-in-law Sophie Lohneiss, Patricia Lohneiss, Helen Loehr, Mary Colbert, Joan Scolsky, and her cousin Frank Woodcock. She was predeceased by her husband, William J. Granata Jr, and her siblings Muriel Glasow, Andrew Lohneiss, William Lohneiss, and Robert Lohneiss.

The family wishes to extend a heartfelt Thank You to the staff at Manchester Manor for the compassionate loving care given to our mother.

Our mom was a kind and generous person, and she will remain in our hearts forever.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 8, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 15 Maplewood Avenue, East Hartford. The family requests that masks be worn in church. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in East Hartford.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to St. Mary’s Church or a charity of your choice.

LIVESTREAM FUNERAL SERVICE