Dorothy DeChicco

AUSTINTOWN — Dorothy Vinarsky DeChicco died on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, at the age of 87.

She was born in Youngstown, the oldest daughter of Stanley Jr. Vinarsky and Lydia Cerny Vinarsky.

She graduated from Girard High School in 1954, where she was a cheerleader, on the school’s first gymnastics team and National Honor Society member. She was a member of the Girard Girls Softball Team. She was a tap dancer from 4 to 17 years old and performed in many local talent shows in costumes made by her mother.

She enjoyed cooking, baking, bowling, crafting, gardening, genealogy, writing and was an avid lifelong learner and the best board game partner ever. Most of all, she loved her family. She never missed sending a holiday or birthday card to her loved ones and attended countless activities of her kids and grandkids over the years.

Dorothy was a breast cancer survivor, a member of FOCUS, a breast cancer survivor group, for over 25 years. She often attended senior citizens’ meetings around town. Dorothy was a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church for 66 years, and St. Michael Catholic Church for 12 years. She was Mahoning County Garden Club president and grew award-winning daffodils.

She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Philip “Patty” DeChicco, and her children, Michael (Jane) DeChicco of Ostrander, Ohio, Robert (Pamela) DeChicco of Westlake, Marianne Lappin of Carmel, Indiana, and Christine DeChicco of Columbus; her grandchildren, Nichole (Steve ) Kuklica of Gahanna, Michelle (Noah) Mabry of Columbus, Matthew (Francesca) DeChicco of Lyndhurst, Jack Lappin and Grace Lappin, both of Carmel, Indiana, Alison (Jonathan) Rivera of Cranford, New Jersey, and Jeanette Smith of Fort Worth, Texas; and her great-grandchildren, Ava DeChicco, Ruby Rivera and Noah Slimane-Muriel.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her infant daughter; her parents; and her sister, Judith Ann Sallustio of Largo, Florida.

Dorothy will be entombed in Greenhaven Memorial Gardens.

Arrangements were by Higgins-Reardon Funeral Homes, Austintown Chapel.