Carmella Jennie Donadio passed away peacefully and surrounded by love March 3, 2011. A longtime Norfolk resident, she recently resided with her daughter and family in Suffolk. The daughter of Francesco and Rosalia Pullara Valenti, she was born Jan. 11, 1921 in Frankfort, N.Y. On Aug. 14, 1942, Carmella and Joseph T. Donadio of Herkimer, N.Y., were joined in marriage. Married for 50 years, they both were devoted to their family. Joseph preceded her in death on Dec. 15, 1993. For many years, Carmella was a bookkeeper and secretary for the Princess Anne Lumber Co. in Virginia Beach. She was also preceded in death by her parents, one sister and three brothers, one of whom was her fraternal twin.

She is survived by a daughter, Phyllis Shelton and her husband Jack of Suffolk; granddaughter, Jennifer Thornton and her husband Matthew of Virginia Beach, grandson, Joshua Shelton and his wife Donna of Smithfield; great-grandchildren, Madelyn Jewel Thornton and Justin and Ryan Wasileski; brothers-in-law, Dr. Robert E. Donadio and wife Patricia of Columbia, Md., and Donald A. Donadio and wife Patricia of Winston-Salem, N.C. The family would like to express their sincerest gratitude and love to Carmella's devoted caregivers, Marie Gaskins and Doris Benson from Home Sweet Home Care. We also want to thank the doctors and nurses of the Palliative and Hospice Care Units of Maryview Hospital for their loving care and support.

A funeral will be held Tuesday, March 8, at 3 p.m. in the Baker-Foster Funeral Home, Bennett's Creek Chapel in Suffolk, with Father Jonathan Goertz presiding. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service at the funeral home. In the spring, Carmella will be laid to rest next to her loving husband at Calvary Cemetery in Herkimer, N.Y. Condolences may be register at www.bakerfoster.com.