With heavy hearts we announce the death of the Matriarch of the Lombardo family, Mary (Dipane) Lombardo, who passed away on January 5, 2025, at the age of 96. Born on January 12, 1928, in Akron, Ohio, to Phillip and Natalie (Gianguzzi) Dipane, Mary was a 1945 graduate of South High School.  Upon graduation, Mary went to work at Hollinger Florist, where she became a Floral Designer extraordinaire. Years later she worked for Colonial Florist and continued to design floral arrangements for all occasions. She loved flowers so much she actually retired 7 times because she just couldn't stay away from the "flower shop".

In 1951, she met and married her sweetheart, Joe.  They were married for almost 70 years and together they raised a family of six children.  Mary was a woman of many talents. She was an expert seamstress, and made many matching outfits for us, first communion dresses, prom dresses, drapes and valances for our home, even dolls and doll clothes.  She sewed like a dream.  Mary was also a wonderful baker. She loved giving her Italian cookies and pizzelles to anyone and everyone who came to visit. Her pies were the best, not to mention her homemade spaghetti sauce and her Italian wedding soup.

Mary loved to go dancing with Joe, and belonged to The ABC Polka Club, The Columbian Guild, The St. Monica Society, The Sicilian-American Women's Club, and was a member of Our Lady of Victory Church in Tallmadge. She was a diehard Cavs fan, enjoyed playing cards, absolutely loved ice cream, watching Wheel of Fortune, and The Lawrence Welk Show.

She was predeceased by her husband Joe (June 4, 2021), her brother Tony Dipane, her in-laws Jennie and Joe Schember, Josie and Frank Leonardi, and Ernie Zugaro.

Mary leaves a legacy that includes Marie (Mel Strbich), Paul Lombardo, Natalie (Bill) Cooper, Louise (Bob) Monnot, Jo Ann (Jim) Hurley, and Phil (Peggy) Lombardo. She was Nanni to 12 grandchildren: Kristen Lee, Jeff Robinson, Andrea (Kyle) Smith, Allyssa (Vinnie) DeLuca, Stephanie (Chad) Bever, Kevin (Regina) Smyth, Patrick (Lisa) Hurley, Rachelle Grandison, David (Megan) Hurley, Lauren (Justin) Forshaw, and Anthony and Nicholas Lombardo. She was "Nanni in the White House" to 19 great-grandchildren. Also left to cherish her memory are her in-laws: Marian Zugaro, Pauline (Don) Rainey, Andy (Karen) Lombardo, and many nieces and nephews.

To family and friends who knew her best, Mary will be remembered as someone very special. She was loved by many and will be tremendously missed.

Calling hours will be on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at Hennessy Funeral Home, (corner of York and Main) 552 North Main Street, Akron, Ohio from 6 - 9 p.m. Mass of the Christian Burial will be on Friday, January 10, at Our Lady of Victory Church, 73 North Ave., Tallmadge, Ohio at 11 a.m.

The Funeral Mass will be live-streamed on Our Lady of Victory's Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/ourladyofvictorychurchtallmadge/

Burial will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery.