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carlo jr. posted a condolence
Dad, We all miss you and you are always in our thoughts! Until we re-unite in Heaven.. Happy 4th Birthday.Life is not the same without you Dad! With Love and sadly missed, Carlo Jr.
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carlo jr posted a condolence
Dad,
We all miss you and you are always in our thoughts!
Until we re-unite in Heaven..
Happy 2nd Birthday.
With Love and sadly missed,
Carlo Jr.</b></font><br><br>
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Christina posted a condolence
You used to leave me a dollar under my pillow when you slept in my bed. I wish I had never spent them for two reasons, 1 : I would have like 100 dollars, and 2 they came from you. You even left them for me when I had a box of stinky hamsters in my room. Ha ha ha ...you use to call them "rats".******************************************
Ha! when i was alot younger, you used to take me to the Ringwood Manner and hollar at me when I used to pick all their flowers. It was so funny.
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When Michele, Debbie and I lived with you, you made us Farina in the morning like everyday. You used to push the sugar bowl away from me because i would take it all and dump it in my farina.It was so funny.
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Then , in the morning, you used to come out of your bedroom singing to Grandma.It was so funny.
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That time you chipped your tooth on a peice of hard bread Grandma laughed at you and said you looked like a hillbilly. **************************
Down stairs, there used to be a picture of these two clowns you used to tell me it was you and Grandma.Grandma used to get mad. haha ...
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Oh and that time I left all my toys downstairs on the floor and you picked them up and put them in a bag. hahaha !
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Grandma used to like a pigs. ha! Then after a while when she got so many of them she didnt like them anymore. You used to pick them up and say "hey look elley ," and torrment her . She hates pigs now lol.. and she still always gets one for some occasion. ***************************You used to take me, Debbie, and Michele to Gilloti's to get italian ices and you nevr brought Grandma back one. Ha ha ha !!!
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Oh!!! That hat poppy, oh you loved that hat. the one you wore all the time with michele, Gina, Debbie, and mines picture on it. You wore it all the time. ***************************
I remember you used to tease grandma and say "oh look elley a bat," with a big smile on your face. **************************
You used to come up to Grandma and kiss her nose! She hated it. Now i kiss her nose and she still hates it! hahaha!
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Ha! I remember on holidays, you use to sit down at the table with a bag of nuts that you called "N***** Toes," hahahha!!! and a big stinky peice of cheese. I hated the smell of that cheese.********************
Poppy, Everyday that goes bt I think of you . There is always something to remind me of you. Your always in my thought everyday. You were the best . I love you so much poppy, and I am so greatful that I have these memories of you to cherish , because they will last a lifetime. I love you Poppy.
x0x0x0x---Christina <3</b></font><br><br>
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Eleanor, your loving wife posted a condolence
You used to always say to me "Eleanor, when I am gone you are going to miss me," and I used to say "I will miss you Carlo, but not your teasing," Now i wish you were here to tease me. I miss you very much and things have not been the same since you have been gone to be with the lord. It's been two years since you have been gone, you will always be in my heart. I think of you all the time, and everyday. I miss you very very much.You were always there for me no matter what happend.I feel so lonely without you. Everyone misses you, :Florence , Neil , Bobby , Lina, everybody. Gina and I , always talk about Poppy and how she misses you, and you used to make her laugh all the time. We all went to the grave site to come visit , and Gina helped carlo put the flowers down. I miss you very much and love you and always will.
Love always,
Ell</b></font><br><br>
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Carlo Jr. posted a condolence
Dad,
Merry Christmas in Heaven!
Wish you were here. Your spirit lives within your family!</b></font><br><br>
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christina posted a condolence
Dear Poppy,
Hi poppy! It's Christina. I miss you so much, and really have been thinking of you lately. I remember all the fun times we had together, and how you always made me smile. You are the best! I will never forget you. You will always be in my heart and in my memories. love always, Christina</b></font><br><br>
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Cralo DiDonato Jr. posted a condolence
Dear Dad,
Just wanted to wish you a Happy Fathers Day and to let you know you are not forgotten. I think of you everyday but especially today. I know you are not here anymore physically but spiritually, now that's a different matter altogether.I feel you are with me in spirit. So many things have changed since you left, some worse, some better, some the same! Eighteen months have come and gone but the sorrow remains as strong as if you left yesterday. Words cannot express how much I miss you. You were a great father. I hope you were able to be proud of me in some small way. I love you!
Love,
Carlo Jr</b></font><br><br>
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Michele Di Donato posted a condolence
Hi Poppy,
Just wanted to write you this little note to tell you that I love you and I really miss you very much. So much has happened since you have been gone...I just graduated and I know you would be so proud of me. You would tell me "You did it Shell!, Right on!!" I just got engaged, and I know you are saying in Heaven, "It's about time!," joking around. Thank you so much for all of the encouragement and love that you gave to all of us, and for being the best Poppy that anyone could have asked for.
I love you.
Love always,
Shell</b></font><br><br>
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christina posted a condolence
Hey Poppy!
I miss you so much ! Michele graduated ! Jayson and Celeste had a baby! We moved to a new house! So much has happened I dont know where to start. I love you and miss you so much. I love you!
Love always,
christina</b></font><br><br>
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CARLO JR. posted a condolence
Dad,
One long year has come and gone since you left, The family is not the same without you and your jokes and laughter!
They say time heals all wounds but "they" were wrong.
I cannot explain in words how much you are missed.
Transend...I cannot do it. Memories of you shall live forever in my heart and there is not a day that goes by that I don't think of you. Thanks for being there for me. Thanks for being you!
Love,
Carlo Jr.</b></font><br><br>
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Carlo DiDonato Jr. posted a condolence
Dad,
New Years sure was not the same without you! You are really missed!
Love,
Carlo Jr.</b></font><br><br>
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carlo didonato posted a condolence
Dad,
You will never be forgotten.I love you!
Happy Father's Day in Heaven!</b></font><br><br>
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carlo jr. posted a condolence
Dad,
Just a note to let you know how much you are missed during your 1st birthday away from home.
You will never be forgotten!
Love,
Carlo Jr.</b></font><br><br>
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Nicholas DiDonato posted a condolence
Our Unsung Hero
A Eulogy for my Father, Carlo DiDonato
Written by his son, Nick, with the help of his grandson, Nicholas
Read by Neal Van Splinter on January 22, 2004
Dad, we are here today in mourning and deep sorrow. As Jesus wept in grief for Lazarus, so too we weep at our loss of you.
Talking about you at this time is so very difficult to do. Not just because of our deep sorrow and grief, but because you never wanted to be acknowledged. We can hear you saying to us now ‘don’t say a word.’ But we, on this day, will need to agree to disagree – for, today, words about you must be spoken.
When tragedy struck your family or friends, you, in quiet strength, as an unsung hero, brought comfort and compassion. You were there for us. You remained there with us. From the time your mother passed away in the early 1960s, you regularly took flowers to her gravesite – something you continued to do right up until this past Christmas. You were there to help through life’s toughest struggles, and we knew that when things seemed hopeless and we felt helpless, somehow, someway, you would come through. And when you did, you sought no praise and wanted no one else to know. You found your fulfillment in knowing that you helped – that’s what mattered to you because that’s what matters to unsung heroes.
When Mom went through her illnesses, you stayed by her side. Right to the end, you put drops in her eyes daily and provided weekly taxi service to the beauty salon. If Mom scolded you, you would tell her, “I’ll do better next time. OK, Eleanor?� She couldn’t keep a straight face.
You always wanted the best for your sons and were with us during triumphs and failures. You would give your opinion when asked – but always told us to make our own decision – letting us know that you would support us whatever we decided. And when we made a decision that disagreed with your opinion, you remained steadfast in your support and love, and suffered alongside us if we ended up making a mistake.
To your grandchildren, you were poppy, the jokester who could behave on their level; you were poppy, the one who totally accepted them; you were poppy, the one who would make them feel good about themselves – like when you would secretly miss pool shots so that they could win. You told them over and over again about the importance of education and it brought you great joy to assist them towards their goals.
Dad, many times you refused to share your inner struggles and pain. Mom would say, “Carlo, you’re in your own bubble.� And often times you were. You kept things to yourself because you did not want to burden us. Even during this past year, having had ministrokes and a pacemaker operation, you would sing songs and tell jokes. While in the hospital emergency room you were singing, “ and now the end in near and so I face the final curtain.� People around you must have thought you were crazy – but we knew better: that’s Dad at work again using humor to take the sting out of tragedy and to keep us from worrying.
A few short weeks ago, during the holidays of 2003, you gave one of your best performances ever. Your jokes, stories and songs seemed endless. You had everyone laughing. We had no idea that it was your final performance and we want to thank you. We will cherish it.
Last week, as we watched you lying motionless in your hospital bed, we were waiting for you to suddenly open your eyes, give your classic smirk, and tell us that everything was going to be OK. You had bounced back so many times before. We remember the time that the deck in our backyard collapsed while your were working on it. You got up and walked away from the rubble. Then there was the time that you were painting with grandpa and you fell two stories. You were bruised but again got up and walked away. But this time is different. The moment has arrived for you to rest. We were not prepared. The suddenness of your death robbed us of our opportunity to comfort and praise you during your darkest journey. This is but a mere fraction of what you deserved to hear – yet even so, I’m sure you’re still objecting. But, despite your protest, you need to know how much we all loved you, how much you touched and transformed our lives, and how lucky we were to have you for as long as we did. We know that you, our Unsung Hero, wore shoes that no one else but you can fill.
Dad, you believed that the Christian faith is best expressed through a love that serves others. In fact, the Bible tells of a man that was beaten and left for dead. A priest walking down the road sees the man, crosses the road and ignores him. Another person, an acquaintance, comes and does the same – crosses the road and ignores him. But, the last man, a man of little fame or fortune, goes to the beaten man, bandages his wounds, and pays for a room where the man stays until he recovers. Jesus said that the last man was a true neighbor because he showed mercy. That last man is you, Dad. You followed the instructions of our Lord. You were compassionate, merciful, generous and forgiving. You were a person who truly loved his neighbor. You reached out even to those who didn’t know you and were kind to the ungrateful.
We admired your honesty about your spiritual struggles. You often wondered about the mystery of God and knew that we would never fully understand God’s providence. Yet, you also believed that a divine purpose runs through all of human life and that everything, including death, is under God’s faithful supervision.
Someone once said, “The day which we fear as our last is but the birthday of eternity. “ That birthday has come for you. We can see you in eternity now. In the great library of heaven, there is a book with the title, Unsung Heroes. In the presence of our redeeming Lord, you, your mother, father and sister are reading a chapter in that book. It is your chapter, the one about your life. For it is in heaven alone that you will be fully known for the wonderful person you are. Our Unsung Hero.
Someday, we will again see each other face to face. Until then, you will live in our hearts, the grateful hearts of those temporarily left behind.
Your loving family and friends.</b></font><br><br>
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Dolores DiDonato posted a condolence
Dear Family and Friends,
As I was looking through a prayer book for some comforting words, I came across a creed, the title of which is simply “A Good Creed�, and it goes like this…
If any little word of ours
Can make one life the brighter;
If any little song of ours
Can make one heart the lighter;
God help us speak that little word,
And take our bit of singing
And drop it in some lonely vale
To set the echoes ringing.
If any little love of ours
Can make one life the sweeter;
If any little care of ours
Can make one step the fleeter;
If any little help may ease
The burden of another,
God give us love and care and strength
To help along each other.
I believe this reflects Dad’s philosophy in life. He always did what he could for those around him. It could be something like a word of encouragement, a joke to make you laugh, or a song. All of which would have a bit of that DiDonato humor. A basket of flowers in time of loss. Transportation to or from work. Or the car itself. A roof over your head. Food on your table, or help making your expenses. Whether it was something big or small he found a way to let you know that he was there for you and he cared. In all aspects of life, as a good son, a good brother, a good husband, a good father, a good uncle, a good grandfather, a good father-in-law, and a good friend.
He never claimed to be a spiritual giant or to know much about spiritual things. There were things he couldn’t make sense of, questions he had no answers for. Yet his life reflected our Lords, accepting people at face value, forgiving their failures, and loving them. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
In Matthew 25 it tells us: "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40 “The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
While we mourn his loss, and will miss his presence in our lives, we must not forget the joy and the hope of our salvation. Dad is experiencing that joy right now because of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Thank you Dad for all the love and care you expressed to us.
Now unto him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy--
25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.</b></font><br><br>
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christinaDiDonato posted a condolence
My Poppy was so special to me. He will always remain in my memories and in my heart. Everyday, I think of the times we shared and how he made me laugh. I was realy blessed to have a poppy like him in my life and now that he is gone, I am sad but I have the best of memories that will last forever within my heat. I love you poppy.
Christina</b></font><br><br>
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Michele Lee DiDonato posted a condolence
There was, and never will be, any one else like my Poppy.He was the best grandfather that anyone could ever ask for, because he always acted more like a father figure to his grandchildren than just a regular "grandpa".I learned a lot of valuable things from Poppy throughout my life, even the day that he had passed away. He taught me that life here on earth is ,indeed, limited and the time here that we are given is truly a gift from God. I will not allow myself to waste that gift and I promise that I will make my Poppy proud.
I love you Poppy.
love your "little daughter"
Shell</b></font><br><br>
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Nicholas DiDonato posted a condolence
The Arm That Has Been Lost.
Suddenly and with no warning I lost my arm. I was unprepared for the devastating blow, but how could you prepare for the loss of what is so vital? People have tried to comfort me. They say, “Maybe it was time for the arm to be lost. Perhaps there’s a greater purpose to be served.� I recognize that ultimately I cannot question God’s providence and loving care. Yet, right now, all that I know is that the arm is gone. As much as I might pray, the arm does not return. The loss remains. The grieving continues. In a moment’s time, life has been irrevocably changed and will never be the same again. Of course, I can learn to use my other arm. But the one that I lost was the arm of strength and comfort. It was so very familiar. Simply put, it was essential to my life and has no replacement. As I make feeble attempts to go on using the arm left behind, it just reminds me of all I have lost in losing what I have. It seems awkward. Can I walk around pretending that my arm was never lost? Should I pretend that it doesn’t matter? I just cannot. I have lost an important ingredient of who I am. My loss is real and the aftermath will forever change what life means. That arm, after all, was my father and a part of me has been taken away that can never be restored.
Love,
Nick
Written by Nicholas DiDonato
February 17, 2004 – one month after my father’s death.</b></font><br><br>
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Nicholas DiDonato posted a condolence
The Arm That Has Been Lost
Suddenly and with no warning I lost my arm. I was unprepared for the devastating blow, but how could you prepare for the loss of what is so vital? People have tried to comfort me. They say, “Maybe it was time for the arm to be lost. Perhaps there’s a greater purpose to be served.� I recognize that ultimately I cannot question God’s providence and loving care. Yet, right now, all that I know is that the arm is gone. As much as I might pray, the arm does not return. The loss remains. The grieving continues. In a moment’s time, life has been irrevocably changed and will never be the same again. Of course, I can learn to use my other arm. But the one that I lost was the arm of strength and comfort. It was so very familiar. Simply put, it was essential to my life and has no replacement. As I make feeble attempts to go on using the arm left behind, it just reminds me of all I have lost in losing what I have. It seems awkward. Can I walk around pretending that my arm was never lost? Should I pretend that it doesn’t matter? I just cannot. I have lost an important ingredient of who I am. My loss is real and the aftermath will forever change what life means. That arm, after all, was my father and a part of me has been taken away that can never be restored.
Written by Nicholas DiDonato
February 17, 2003 – one month after my father’s death.</b></font><br><br>
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Carlo Di Donato Jr. posted a condolence
The passing of my Father came without warning.My heart is crushed and destroyed now. I was truly blessed to have a father like him. He always put his family's interests before his own. He truly loved my mother, brother and me. He adored and loved his grandchildren. He was always there for us and his friends. Whether it was love, support, advise, comfort or just a joke I could count on Dad. He was the rock of our family. They say time heals all wounds, hurt and sorrows but I will never, ever get over the passing of my father. There were so many things left to do and say but I am glad I was able to say to my father" Dad, I love you!" I look forward to the day I reunite with him in Heaven and know that he, when the time comes will welcome me home with a smile. Dad, I miss you!
When the trees whisper that will be Dad letting me know thing are alright. God Bless You and keep you close.
Love,
Carlo Jr.</b></font><br><br>
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Sal Yodice posted a condolence
One truly loved and trusted-friend,will surely be missed by me and my whole family alike!---Hope to see you in heaven, Carlo!LOVE,Sal,Anne & children.</b></font><br><br>
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Michele Francisco posted a condolence
Thursday, April 4, 2019
Hi Poppy,
I just wanted to let you know that there's not a day that goes by that I don't think of you and miss you. I miss our talks, our walks, our laughs. I just miss you every day. I see your picture everyday and I say good morning. Christina had a baby boy. He's adorable. I wish you were here. I miss you n love you always❤️
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Totowa, NJ 07512
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