Obituary of Patricia DiDonato

Patricia A. DiDonato, loving wife, mother and matriarch, 89, of Manchester, entered into eternal rest surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, December 2, 2023. Daughter of the late Nicholas and Edna (Dyke) Russo, Patricia was born on October 21, 1934, in Wilmington, North Carolina. 

In her early years, Patricia worked at Royal Typewriter in Hartford, where she met the love of her life, John “Johnny” DiDonato. They married in 1955 and spent the next 68 years by each other’s side. She also worked for Dean Machine in Manchester, as well as the Town of Manchester’s Registrar of Voters office from which she retired.

Patricia was a true matriarch of the family. Her home hosted many big Italian parties, open to anyone and everyone, there was always a seat at their table. Patricia loved to cook wonderful meals for everyone in attendance, and simply make you feel at home. Patricia loved hosting swimming parties in summertime for all of the kids and neighbors, their house was truly known as "the fun house". In Patricia's free time, she loved tending to her garden. She was also a devoted grandmother, surrounding herself with family at all times, together they took trips to the Cape, the Jersey Shore, and the Berkshires.

Patricia is survived by her loving husband, Johnny DiDonato; her daughter, Cynthia Witwicki and her husband Will, her son John DiDonato and his wife Valerie, her daughter Susan Thurston and her husband Marc; her grandchildren, Christina Nunes and her husband Filipe, Ashley Biel and her husband Brian, Angela Witwicki and her partner Travis Piskura, and Jenna Wyble and her husband Luis; her great-grandchildren, Olivia and Adriana Nunes, Sophia and Tristan Biel, Alison Piskura, and Eliana Wyble, as well as many loved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was predeceased by her twin brother, Nicholas Russo, her sister Rose Marie Johnson, and her grandson, Billy Witwicki. 

Relatives and friends are invited to the John F. Tierney Funeral Home, 219 West Center St. in Manchester on Wednesday, December 6 for a visitation from 4 to 7pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Bartholomew Church on Thursday, December 7 at 11am, please meet directly at church. Burial will be held privately and at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Patricia to COPD Foundation, 3300 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Miami, FL, 33134; or Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601; the Salvation Army, 661 Main St. in Manchester. For online condolences, please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome.com.