Donna Mae (Brior) Dalesandro

Donna Mae (Brior) Dalesandro, 74, of Zion Grove, passed away February 17, 2022 at Berwick Hospital Center in Berwick, following a lengthy illness.

Born in Hazleton, November 25, 1947, she was the daughter of the late Howard and Ilamae (Berger) Brior and spent the past 47 years in Zion Grove, after moving from Fern Glen.

Donna was a beloved kindergarten teacher; first at Ringtown, then at Nuremberg, and finally at Valley Elementary Schools for over 31 years.  She loved teaching, children, animals, and helping others. She fostered 14 children while raising her own 6 and teaching hundreds of kids over the years.

She was preceded in death, in addition to her parents, by a son David Dalesandro who passed away February 28, 2012; and brother Donald (Butch) Brior.

Surviving are five of her children, Lisa Dalesandro, Zion Grove; Colleen Acri and her husband Joey, Colorado; Melissa Dalesandro, Fern Glen; Tiffany Whitenight, Sheppton; and Dustan Dalesandro and his companion Kim Mumaw, Drums; eight amazing grandchildren; a brother William Brior and his wife Kathy, Sugarloaf; and a sister-in-law JoAnne Brior, Ocean City, MD. as well as many nieces and nephews.

Her funeral will be held with a Memorial Service on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at 3pm in Emmanuel United Church of Christ, 255 Mahanoy St, Nuremberg, PA 18241.  Interment will take place privately at the convenience of the family.  Harman Funeral Homes & Crematory, Inc. (West), 1265 Rock Glen Road, Rock Glen assisted the family with the cremation.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Hillside SPCA, PO Box 233, Pottsville, PA 17901 in honor of her love for animals, or to Helping Hands Society, 301 Siller Drive, Hazleton, PA 18201 in honor of her absolute love for all children, or to Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 in honor of her US Naval veteran father.

Online condolences can be entered and more information is available at www.harmanfuneral.com.

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