Dorothea Schifano
The St. Francis High School community would like to extend our condolences to the Skirvin family on the passing of Dorotha Schifano, grandmother of Austin Skirvin '20.
Dorothea Schifano
February 23, 1938 - February 18, 2021
Charlotte, North Carolina - Dorothea Ann Schifano passed away on February 18, 2021, just five days before her 83rd birthday and seven days after her 60th wedding anniversary. Although these dates may be random, they do reflect the essence of Dorothea's life. Dorothea knew early on that her life's calling would be her family, and she worked for sixty years in the capacity of wife and mother. Dorothea was born in Berwick, PA to her parents, Joseph and Carmela Pitarra. She was the second of four children: Rose Marie Hospodor (deceased); Joseph Pitarra (deceased), and Patti Rella (living in Schenectady, NY.) Dorothea grew up in Endicott, NY, which is where she met and married her husband, Salvatore Schifano. They have four children: AJ (wife Brenda), Andrea, Liz (husband Tat), and John. When IBM asked Sal to move to Charlotte, NC in 1979, Dorothea took moving away from her mother, brother, aunts, and uncles in stride and guided her three high schoolers and one fourth grader through it all with the confidence, pragmatism, and humor that defined her. Dorothea was a devout Catholic and the first teacher to her children about what being Catholic truly means. Relying on her unfailing faith, Dorothea guided (and sometimes pushed) her children through childhood and adolescence while always pointing them toward God. Dorothea absolutely thrived as a grandmother, and developed a special bond with each of her ten grandchildren: Nicole "Nicky" Schifano (Denver); Salvatore "Sal" Schifano (Denver); Catherine"Cat" Schifano (Denver); Jackson Taggart (Denver); Monica Taggart (St. Petersburgh, FL); Madeline "Maddy" Skirvin (Arlington, VA); Samantha Skirvin (Glen Ellyn, IL); Austin Skirvin (Glen Ellyn, IL); Josephine "Joey" Schifano (Cary, NC) and Michael Schifano (Cary, NC.) Family was absolutely everything to Dorothea, and her four children have her to thank for her wisdom in raising children. Dorothea taught us what it means to be a wife, a mother, and a child of God. Generations from now, her family will be quoting her. "Be good. Have fun." "You don't have to marry it, just eat it." And the quote that may represent Dorothea most succinctly: "I come from a long line of strong Italian women with very little patience."
A funeral mass for Dorothea will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 23, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Gabriel Catholic Church.
February 23, 1938 - February 18, 2021
Charlotte, North Carolina - Dorothea Ann Schifano passed away on February 18, 2021, just five days before her 83rd birthday and seven days after her 60th wedding anniversary. Although these dates may be random, they do reflect the essence of Dorothea's life. Dorothea knew early on that her life's calling would be her family, and she worked for sixty years in the capacity of wife and mother. Dorothea was born in Berwick, PA to her parents, Joseph and Carmela Pitarra. She was the second of four children: Rose Marie Hospodor (deceased); Joseph Pitarra (deceased), and Patti Rella (living in Schenectady, NY.) Dorothea grew up in Endicott, NY, which is where she met and married her husband, Salvatore Schifano. They have four children: AJ (wife Brenda), Andrea, Liz (husband Tat), and John. When IBM asked Sal to move to Charlotte, NC in 1979, Dorothea took moving away from her mother, brother, aunts, and uncles in stride and guided her three high schoolers and one fourth grader through it all with the confidence, pragmatism, and humor that defined her. Dorothea was a devout Catholic and the first teacher to her children about what being Catholic truly means. Relying on her unfailing faith, Dorothea guided (and sometimes pushed) her children through childhood and adolescence while always pointing them toward God. Dorothea absolutely thrived as a grandmother, and developed a special bond with each of her ten grandchildren: Nicole "Nicky" Schifano (Denver); Salvatore "Sal" Schifano (Denver); Catherine"Cat" Schifano (Denver); Jackson Taggart (Denver); Monica Taggart (St. Petersburgh, FL); Madeline "Maddy" Skirvin (Arlington, VA); Samantha Skirvin (Glen Ellyn, IL); Austin Skirvin (Glen Ellyn, IL); Josephine "Joey" Schifano (Cary, NC) and Michael Schifano (Cary, NC.) Family was absolutely everything to Dorothea, and her four children have her to thank for her wisdom in raising children. Dorothea taught us what it means to be a wife, a mother, and a child of God. Generations from now, her family will be quoting her. "Be good. Have fun." "You don't have to marry it, just eat it." And the quote that may represent Dorothea most succinctly: "I come from a long line of strong Italian women with very little patience."
A funeral mass for Dorothea will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 23, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Gabriel Catholic Church.
St. Francis High School
2130 W. Roosevelt Road, Wheaton, IL 60187
Phone (630) 668-5800
Fax (630) 668-5893
Phone (630) 668-5800
Fax (630) 668-5893
