Obituary of Donna L. Occhipinti

Donna L. Occhipinti, 81, of Rome, passed away on Friday, September 17, 2021 at Bethany Gardens. She was born in St. Louis, MO, on August 18, 1940, daughter of the late Charles and Stella Ennor Hildreth. On July 31, 1971 she married Michael D. Occhipinti in St. John the Baptist Church. He passed away on April 13, 2017. Donna retired from Rome Hospital as a ward clerk. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Church. Donna was active in Rome Rotary Club and its Gift of life program, and hosted many exchange students from various countries. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Donald and Natasha Wilburn, St. Petersburg, Russia, two daughters and a son-in-law; Deborah and Joseph Puccio, Rome and Dona and Edward O'Neil, Weedsport, NY, nine grandchildren; Shannon, Barbara, Elizabeth, Joshua, Alicia, Brianna, Josiah, Noah and Emily and many great- grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. Also surviving are brothers; Greg and Cheryl Perry, Dennis and Theresa Perry, Richard Perry, a sister Rosalie Murphy, all of St. Louis, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a sister and brother-in-law, Phyllis and Richard Murray. The family wishes to express a special thank you to the wonderful staff of Bethany Gardens, past and present, for the loving care and support for Donna throughout the years. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, September 23, 2021 at 11:00 a.m., at St. John the Baptist Church with the Rev. Paul F. Angelicchio officiating, where relatives and friends are invited to attend. Burial will be in St. John the Baptist Cemetery. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Donna's name to: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memorials Processing, 501 St. Jude PL, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 or Ronald McDonald House, Syracuse, NY at www.rmhcny.org . Arrangements are by the Nicholas J. Bush Funeral Home, Inc., 7751 Merrick Rd. To offer online condolences, please visit www.njbushfuneralhome.com