Mary Sarah (Melingagio) Donovan of Fort Myers, Fla. and formerly Bridgeville, died in Port Charlotte, Fla. on July 6, 2021.
She was born on Dec. 8, 1922 in Omaha, Nebraska to Paul and Josephine (Gagliolo) Melingagio. She graduated from Technical High School in 1940 then worked at Merchant Bakeries and Boys Town while helping her mother care for her ill father.
On Aug. 27, 1950 she wed and became a military wife, making a home for the family at the many bases where they were stationed during her husband’s 20 year career among them Warren AFB, Wyoming, Richards Gabauer AFB, Missouri and Tyndall AFB, FL., as well as while her husband was deployed to Korea and Vietnam and many other areas as part of OSI duties.
After moving to Omaha, Nebraska and Denison, Iowa they then settled in Bridgeville, where they became proprietors of Donovan’s Grocery.
She and her husband enjoyed traveling the U.S. and Canada but spending time with family members was her greatest joy. Her husband was so proud of her cooking and baking skills that he loved to invite guests to dinner or gift her cakes to many friends.
They were active members of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Seaford, contributing their time helping with dinners and bazaars as well as their financial support for the building of the church hall.
She was her husband’s caregiver until his death from complications of Lewey Bodies Dementia. She then spent time in the winters with her granddaughter’s family in Gainesville, Fla. then lived in Fort Myers, Fla. for the last 10 years.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband of 55 years, Robert E. Donovan, Sr. Capt. (retired) USAF; brothers Joseph Melingagio, (Mary), Sebastian Melingagio (Agnes) and niece Jean Pisci, all of Omaha. She is survived by her daughter Patricia Moore and son-in-law Benjamin of Fort Myers, Fla. and Bridgeville; her son Robert E. Donovan, Jr. and his wife Barbara Weingard of Goldsboro, Md.; granddaughter Melissa and her husband Dr. Benjamin O’Neal; great-grandchildren Emily and Maxwell of Port Charlotte, Fla.; sisters-in-law Jeannette Hastings and Betty Masten of Seaford; niece Patricia Fitl; nephew Ross Pisci and many grand nieces and nephews of Omaha, Nebraska.
Mass of Christian Burial was on Wednesday, July 14 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Seaford. Burial was in Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Millsboro.
To leave a condolence visit www.cranstonfuneralhome.com.