Donna Rae Spano

Donna Rae Spano was born July 17th 1951 in Steubenville, Ohio, and went home to the arms of the Father on January 1, 2022, after spending time at Weirton Medical Center briefly for an illness.  She was no ordinary woman, and anyone who ever experienced her beauty, her positivity, her fighting spirit, and her caring heart would tell you the same. She truly brought to life the love of Jesus Christ, always seeking out the marginalized, the suffering, and just loving people, never judging, but making them feel worthy of that love. She made everyone feel like they were special.  She grew up between Steubenville and Mingo, then as an adult, worked many years while raising her family, often two jobs at a time. After retiring, she continued to work her days taking care of her home and her beloved husband and her cats and any of God’s other creatures she knew to be cold or hungry or in need in any way.  She enjoyed going dancing and playing the guitar in her younger years, she loved funny movies, listening to good music, watching The Office, swimming, reading, dancing around the house and making up joyful little songs and dances about otherwise mundane daily tasks, and flirting with her husband. She loved him, and the rest of her family, the most. Her smile and laugh and humor were infectious, and her hugs and foot rubs were the best. She had the unique gift of making everyone she listened to feel heard, loved, and important, and she kept your secrets if you confided in her. And then she gave the best advice. She knew and loved Jesus, so if she loved you, she wanted you to know him too. She spent her later years not afraid of dying, but looking forward to the Glory of the presence of God.  She was surrounded by her loving family as she made her transition to heaven. A welcoming committee of greeters at the gates includes her Mother, Mary Lou Diequez, her Father John Diequez, Aunt Shirley Jackson and Uncle Leonard Jackson, her brother in law Louie Spano, and countless cats and dogs who left this earth before her.  Weeping with sorrow from the hole that her passing has left here, yet also shouting for joy at her reunion with Christ and freedom from suffering, include her main man, her husband of 43 years sometimes difficult, often beautiful and always inspiring years, Ralph Spano of Steubenville, daughters Chrystal McAtee (John) of Steubenville, Angela Hardwick (Collin) of Cadiz, Julie (Rich) Fillipovich of Adena, sister Lisa (David) Pearce of Steubenville, Sister-in-Law Tina of Weirton, Brother in Law Joe (Cindy) of Weirton, sister in law Joanie (Jim) of South Carolina, 2 grandchildren, Alexis Hardwick and Quintin Fillipovich, and 4 nephews, Edward (Emily) Allison, Sam (Cera) Allison, Brayden Pearce, and Anthony “Pickle” Pearce. Plus her 4 cats, her grand puppies, and the rest of the current host of creatures God entrusted to her care.  So many lives were forever changed for the better by knowing and loving Donna Rae Spano, and she recognized those people as gifts to her, just as she was to them.  A private celebration of life will be held at a later time.   memorial contributions may be made to the Jefferson County Humane Society P.O. Box 233 Steubenville, OH 43952 Offer condolences,www.mostifuneralhome.com