DONADIO, Shelagh (Malone)

Shelagh Donadio of Vaughan, Ontario passed away on May 23, 2021 with her loving children by her side. Pre-deceased by her beloved husband Joe in 2016, her mother Mercedes Malone, her brothers Kevin, David, and Kip Malone and her sister Mary Skinner, Shelagh is remembered with much love and affection by her children and grandchildren, her sister Sharron Peet, as well as members of her extended family and friends in Ontario and in Newfoundland. Born and raised in the west end of St. John’s, Shelagh attended St. Patrick’s School and Holy Heart of Mary. Like many of her generation, when she finished high school she headed to the ‘mainland’ for work. Shelagh went to Ontario, where several of her siblings had already moved, and got a job at Toronto Pearson airport. It was there that she met Joe Donadio, the love of her life. They dated, fell in love, married, had a family and enjoyed a partnership that would last almost five decades. Shelagh and Joe enjoyed a wonderful life. They raised two devoted children, Paul (Danielle) and Laura (Rob Martire), and were blessed with three beautiful grandchildren, Payton, Daniel, and Lucas. Family was important to Shelagh and Joe. They opened their home freely and many a meal was shared at their table. Shelagh and Joe often housed her Newfoundland family for holidays, workterm jobs, singing competitions, and much more. Although Shelagh made her home in Ontario, a big piece of her heart still belonged to Newfoundland. She enjoyed trips back home and in recent years she, Joe, their children, and grandchildren were able to visit. She delighted in these trips, catching up with family and friends, and was particularly happy to show her grandchildren her birthplace. Shelagh will be remembered for her gentle and caring ways. She was thoughtful, kind and always interested in hearing how you were doing. She was a voracious reader, enjoyed researching her family genealogy, loved listening to Carol King and Van Morrison, and appreciated a good game of Scrabble. She loved exchanging letters and phone calls with her family and friends, and never ended a phone call without telling the person on the other end that she loved them. Shelagh was taken too soon but leaves behind a lasting legacy of love and friendship. We will miss her but were blessed in having known her.