Shirley Vittorini
Age - 85
November 29, 2023
Shirley Louise Vittorini, 86, widow of Domenic Vittorini, passed away on November 21, 2023. Born in Gary, IN, she had been a resident of Hampton for 47 years and she was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Shirley was born in 1937 to Pete and Anita Sawochka. Pete was a steelworker and Anita a mother to three. Growing up, Shirley was a tomboy, keeping up with her numerous male cousins and her two brothers, John and Butch. Her passion was tennis, winning the city championship as a teenager, and she loved to watch every Grand Slam tournament on television. At the age of 13, she met Domenic and married him in February, 1957. Almost immediately after, Domenic, who was in the United States Army, was deployed to Korea. A year later, Mark was born and thus began the life of a military wife and mother. Throughout Domenic's 20-year career, the family moved 21 times. During her years as the wife of an active duty officer, she was involved in many charitable activities and served as a Girl Scout Leader. While she worked a few years in accounting at JC Penney's and in the Civil Service at Ft Monroe, she was best known as a mother to four children. With Domenic often deployed or working long hours, Shirley kept the family going. She was the advice giver, the healer of all hurts, physical and other, and the listener. Perhaps most notably, she was the keeper of the family history. At any family occasion, Shirley always had stories to tell, about herself and her family growing up in Indiana, about her experiences as an Army wife, and the adventures of her children and grandchildren. She knew the family's history better than anyone and more often than not, stories were told with laughter and always with love. As a grandmother three times over, and she took the title very seriously ensuring her grandsons, Grahame, Kyle, and Connor, always had an adventure to look forward to, such as trips to the zoo, Bluebird Gap Farm, and any and all dinosaur exhibits. Much of her time was spent spoiling them at her home, where there was always an inflatable pool and popsicles in the summer and hot cocoa and movies in the winter. And, of course, she cooked any meal requested. As her children grew older, she embarked on a new passion--travel. Shirley and Domenic visited family in Italy numerous times throughout their years together. They also embarked on tours, trekking through as many European countries as possible. She took hundreds of pictures and read the history of every site and country she visited and could tell you just about anything that was asked. She continued to travel until Domenic passed away in their 61st year of marriage. Throughout her life, Shirley was nothing if not devoted to her family--especially her children and grandchildren. It is that love and devotion that sustains them through their grief. Shirley is survived by her children, Mark P. Vittorini, Darian G. Vittorini (Annikken), Alesia A. Vittorini and Janine C. Franklin (George); grandchildren, Grahame (Hayley), Kyle and Connor; and great-grandchildren, Aurelia and Ember. The family will receive friends from 11:30-12 Noon, Friday, December 8, 2023, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 2107 Cunningham Dr. in Hampton. Immediately following at Noon, a Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Rev. John Grace. Arrangements are by Berceuse Funeral and Cremation Traditions in Hampton, 757-825-8070.Show more
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