Patricia (Gechoff) Didonato

PATRICIA "PATTI" DIDONATO (GECHOFF)

1935-2025

On the first day of Spring, March 20, 2025, Patti DiDonato, age 89, went to join God and her loved ones in Heaven.

A lifelong Akron resident, Patti lived her entire life in Firestone Park. She graduated from Garfield High School in 1953 and thereafter worked as a legal secretary with a local law firm, and then with Goodyear Tire, where she held top-secret clearance.

In 1956, Patti married Rudy, her childhood sweetheart and the love of her life. Together they raised their family of five children, with Patti at the helm.

This super-mom had a heart for service and was actively involved with multiple PTAs, church, and fundraisers for nonprofit organizations. She unassumingly found the energy and willpower to care for the household, run her own business, and stay involved in the community and church, all the while supporting her children and Rudy in their activities.

Patti was strong in faith and family. God blessed her with many talents, from athleticism and intelligence to cooking and baking and the ability to serve as a devoted caregiver. She loved watching all kinds of TV shows and movies (The Sound of Music was her favorite) and saying her nightly prayers.

Patti was also an entrepreneur, having made thousands of wedding and occasion cakes over the nearly 30 years she spent operating the well-loved cake business she called "Patti Cakes."

Throughout her life, Patti was known for her kindness, selflessness, and generosity to others. She always enjoyed a good laugh or story and loved watching sporting events and running all over town with Rudy. People often commented: "Patti is just such a sweetheart!" Over nearly a decade of health challenges, Patti never lost her zest for life and she always maintained a great disposition and the relentless spirit to fight every illness. To her children, she was the glue that kept the family together, inspiring and supporting them in their endeavors.

Patti is preceded in death by Rudy, her loving husband of 62.5 years; her parents, Petco and Stanka Gechoff; and her brother Chris Gechoff and sister Rose Beck; as well as many in-laws (Mary, Tony, Jane, and Maxine DiDonato; Joanne Staats; George Beck; and Dana Gechoff).

She is survived by her five children, Joseph (Marina), Rebecca DiDonato Heimbaugh, Laurie (Fred) Walton, John (Jennifer), and Christine (Paul) Lavigne. She is sadly missed by her grandchildren, Alissa and Anthony (DiDonato); Elizabeth, Joseph, and Nicholas (Heimbaugh); Brent and Natalie (Walton); and Joshua, Nicholas, Daniel, Emily (William Cvammen), and Rachel (DiDonato). She also leaves behind her in-laws, Bobby, Eugene, and Bonnie DiDonato; as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and friends.

The family would like to thank Patti's many caregivers over the years, who lovingly assisted the family in her care and enabled her to remain living at home. A special thank-you to Drs. Donald Dumford and Daniela Ciltea for the outstanding and dedicated medical care they provided Patti over the last several years.

Patti's life will be celebrated with calling hours at Anthony Funeral Home, 1990 South Main Street, Akron, Ohio, on Friday, March 28, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., with Rosary to follow. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 1580 Brown Street, Akron, Ohio, on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Burial will immediately follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions in Patti's memory be made to St. Paul's Catholic Church Ladies Guild or to Open M Ministry.

Patti's life was a life well lived. Well done, good and faithful servant. Well done.