| Date of Birth | February 8, 1938 |
| Date Deceased | October 7, 2022 |
| Hometown | Hornell |
| Home State | N.Y. |
| Service Date | October 15, 2022 |
| Service Time | 10 a.m. |
| Service Location | St. Ann's Church, Hornell |
| Interment Location | St. Ann's Cemetery, Hornell |
Donna L. DeSanto
HORNELL-Donna L. DeSanto, 84, of Hornell passed away, surrounded by her loving family, late Friday afternoon (Oct. 7, 2022) at Hornell Gardens, after a long illness.
Born in Hornell on Feb. 8, 1938, she was a daughter of the late David L. and Gertrude (Orton) Barney. On July 2, 1960 she was married at St. Ann’s Church in Hornell to Nicholas J. DeSanto, Jr. who predeceased her on July 8, 1971 after only 11 years of marriage. Besides her parents and husband, she was also predeceased by one brother, Gerald Barney and three sisters, Mary Barney, Phyllis Minnich and Lois Farnsworth.
A resident of Hornell for most of her life, Donna was a graduate of Hornell High School, class of 1957.
After the untimely death of her husband, she began doing daycare for children of teachers so that she would have the same time off that her own young children had. Eventually she became employed at the former Morrison-Knudsen (MK) in Hornell and after retiring she returned to childcare. Her greatest joy in life was being able to care for her grandchildren.
An avid Hornell Dodgers fan (now known as the Hornell Steamers), Donna loved plants and flowers and especially loved spending time with her family.
She is lovingly survived by her two devoted children, Kimberly DeSanto Walsh and Steven (Jenny) DeSanto; two grandchildren, Dominic (Hayley) DeSanto and Gina DeSanto; a great-granddaughter, Italia DeSanto; one sister, Linda (Joe) Dick; a brother-in-law, Richard (Josephine) DeSanto; a sister-in-law, Ellen DeSanto; a niece, Sandy (Tom) Weigel; a nephew, Damian Dick as well as several other nieces and nephews.
Calling hours are 5-7 p.m. Friday (Oct. 14, 2022) at the Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home, 285 Main St., Hornell. Relatives and friends are invited to join her family at St. Ann’s Church, 31 Erie Ave., Hornell, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday (Oct. 15, 2022). Interment will take place at the convenience of the family at St. Ann’s Cemetery in Hornell with her one and only true love, Nick.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in her memory to the Hornell Steamers, P.O. Box, 235, Hornell, NY 14843. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.
Online condolences or remembrances of Donna are welcome in the comment section below or on the Facebook page of Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home.
My condolences to Kim and Steve and family. Donna was a humorous and very pleasant person
Kim and Steve and families,
I am so very sorry for your loss.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Norah
Dear Kim, Steve and family,
I am so very sorry to hear of Donna’s passing. Donna worked for us for years caring for our children when they were small. She was wonderful and so loving. She was way more than someone who worked for us. She was a friend and dear loved one.
Over the years, I remember visiting her at her apartment and sharing news of my children, magazines and of course plants and flowers with her. She always had wonderful stories of her late husband, her children and of course her grandchildren. She so dearly loved her family and friends.She was so special in a way that words fail to define. We just loved her so much.
I pray you find comfort and strength in each other and the many wonderful memories of time spent with her. This is such a grievous loss.
So tearfully sorry.
Much love to you all.
Truly,
Traci
Dear Kim, Steve and families so very sorry for your loss!!! I truly enjoyed working with Donna and both of you at MK!!! You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Robin Green
Steve,Jenny,Dominic and GinaBella..so sorry for ur loss
Steve, so sorry to hear of your mothers passing. I know its touch but you will get through this.
Dear Kim and Steve,
My deepest sympathy for the loss of your loving and caring Mother.