OBITUARY: Mary Ann Allen Dontaello, 95

Below is an obituary from Thomas L. Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home:

NEW LONDON, CT — Mary Ann Allen Donatello, age 95, of Waterford, died February 4, 2023, at L+M Hospital with her family at her side.

She was born on January 9, 1928, in Wilmington, MA, the eldest daughter of George L. Allen and Dorothy Storm Allen. She lived most of her younger life in Boston, MA. When she was 21 years old, she met Patsy Donatello while he was working in the Boston, MA area doing marine construction at the naval base. The following year, in June of 1950 they were married and she moved to New London. Patsy passed away on May 13, 2005.

In 1957, she moved to Waterford into the house she and her husband built. She worked many years for the Waterford School system and later in life for the Friendship School. Mary enjoyed working and decided she was ready to retire when she was 90 years old.

She is survived by her son, John Donatello and wife Diane; daughter, Suzan Perritt and husband Robert; seven grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, James Donatello and sister-in-law JoAnn Donatello Bowman. Mary was predeceased by all of her siblings, Roland Storm, George Allen, Edna Dyer and William Allen.

Family was important to Mary. She was devoted to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Getting her hair done and going out to dinner on Thursdays was an important part of her week. She wanted her longtime Southwest School friends “the golden girls,” Paula, Joan, Mary and Debbie to know how much they meant to her as well as she how much she will miss having dinner on Thursdays with them. She will also miss her furry kitten friends Lucy and Midnight.

Mary’s family would like to express their gratitude to the 5.4 staff at L+M for the excellent and compassionate care she received. A very special thank you to her nurse Brooke.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday February 9, 2023 at St. Paul Church, Rope Ferry Road, Waterford. Interment will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, New London. The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday morning from 8:30 am to 10:30 am at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons East Lyme Funeral Home 48 Grand Street, Niantic.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s memory may be made to Safe Futures 16 Jay Street New London, CT 06320, or to St. Paul Church in Waterford. Please visit www.neilanfuneralhome.com to leave the family an online condolence.