Domenica “Dee” Attinello, a lifelong resident of the Bronx, passed away on February 21, 2022 at the age of 90. She was born to the late Maddalena and Giuseppe Romita and was the sister of the late Felix Romita.
Dee leaves behind a wonderful legacy of love, commitment and family ties as well as her deep religious convictions.
Dee is survived by her husband of 70 years, Matty, her daughters, Dolores and Roseann and their husbands, Paul and Roy.
Dee also leaves behind her five grandchildren: Paul Matthew and his wife, Janice; Jennifer; Anthony and his wife, Suhlail; James and his wife, Samira; and Samantha; and her three great-grandchildren: Christian, Gabriella and Mateo.
Dee was always full of life and had a great sense of humor. She loved entertaining her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Dee always believed in “family first” and the celebrations of all milestones, whether big or small. There are many memories of countless parties and celebrations with her.
Dee also was deeply committed to her faith and the Blessed Mother. A devout Catholic who went to church daily, Dee instilled in her children the values of faith, hope and love. Dee also donated to numerous charities during her lifetime.
Dee’s love and commitment to all her family and friends are testimony to the person she was.
Visiting will be Sunday from 3-7pm at John Dormi & Sons Funeral Home, 1121 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx. Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday at 10am at St. Clare’s Church, 1918 Paulding Avenue, Bronx. Entombment will follow at St. Raymond’s Cemetery, 2600 Lafayette Avenue, Bronx. In lieu of flowers the family would prefer donations in her memory, earmarked for hospice care, to The Calvary Fund , 1740 Eastchester Road, Bronx, New York 10461.
Dee was a loving cheerful human being. I, personally, never saw her without a smile. She cherished all her grandchildren! I first met Dee when I first met her daughter Dolores. Dolores’s son Paul was 6 months and my daughter Jamie was one month. It was right near The Emerald Gift Shop. It was a Wednesday, her day off, a day to be just Nanny! R.I.P. Nanny Dee. You were a special person.❤️
In life you don’t get to choose your family, but you do get to make the most wonderful endearing friends with people who become family. My parents were blessed with a friendship that considered Dee more like a sister and to us an aunt. This was not ordinary, but it was a friendship that endured the best of times and the hardest with a bond that could never be broken. A friendship of more than 70 years created a lifetime of memories.
How lucky were we to have Aunt Dee who shared her love with us by playing with our talking Cecil toy. She would bring us snacks while their “club” meeting was going on in the living room.. While the other adults socialized, she always had time for us . As families we shared times at Sherwood Island. Aunt Dee was generous never forgetting a birthday without scotch taping money inside the card. Most importantly, we can remember her smile and laugh as she was my Dad’s best audience. We would giggle as she would say, “Right Matty”. I am so glad Aunt Dee, Uncle Matty and my parents took a vacation to Walt Disney World, where the biggest laugh was my Dad and his Mickey Mouse ears.
Unfortunately, her illness prevented us from making more memories, but the ones we share can never be erased.
Her boundless love and devotion for family and friends will be carried on.
We extend our deepest sympathy and love to Uncle Matty, Dolores, Roseann, their spouses, all the grandchildren and great grandchildren. We pray that God embraces her as we hold her in our hearts.
Rosemary De Natale Mangiamele