Marian DeBona

Marian Alice DeBona (nee Recco), 90, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, surrounded by her beloved family. True to her feisty Italian nature, she exceeded survival expectations by almost a year after being diagnosed with lung cancer in 2019.

Marian was born in Akron on June 17, 1931, the youngest of eight children to Marion and Jennie Recco. She was a lifelong Akron resident who had a special talent for cooking and baking. She also enjoyed gardening and going boating with her family. Marian was foremost a wife, mother, and grandmother, but also made a living first as a furniture upholsterer at San Hygiene Furniture, then as a waitress at Antonino's and Palumbo's restaurants. She was well-liked by most everyone she met, and her cookies and cannolis are famous among those who were lucky enough to taste them. In her later years, Marian remained active and was often the center of attention among family, friends, and even strangers who admired her humor and energy.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, granddaughter, Dana Shaffer, brothers and sisters, Pauline, Sam, Frank, and Harold Recco, Angelina Cambria, Helen Pircio, and Sally Semilia. She is survived by her daughters Cindy (Marty) Shaffer and Andrea (Jim) Hillery, and grandchildren Nicholas Shaffer and Gina (Ryan) Seit.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Hilary Catholic Church, 2750 W Market St., Fairlawn on Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at 11:00 AM. A private family interment will take place immediately following.

Should friends desire, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Summit County Humane Society, 7996 Darrow Road Suite 30, Twinsburg, OH 44087, in Marian's memory.