Photo : Courtesy Donnini Family 2011
Photo: Dorothy Hall
Sunderland Echo Wednesday 07/02/1934
L.D. Donnini
Royal Army Service Corps
1st May 1944 age 37
On whose soul
Sweet Jesus, have mercy.
Ludovicus Dino [Lewis Deno], Donnini the eldest boy, was born in January 1907, at Front Street, South Moor, baptised on the 3rd March 1907, one of ten children of Alfredo Pellegrino Donnini, [born 11th October 1883, Castelnuovo, Italy, died 27th February 1950], and Catherine, nee Brown, [born 11th August 1889 at Sacriston, died 1965], at 8 Seaside lane, Easington Colliery. They were married in 1907.
Alfredo Pellegrino Donnini had emigrated to England in 1899, with his sister Mira Donnini (born 1892, Castelnuovo, Italy, {married a John C. Allen in 1916}, died 1939). He was a confectioner and a billiards saloon proprietor. He never applied to be naturalized.
They were originally residing at Front Street, South Moor, where they occupied an ice-cream shop, with two assistants Piani Plessandoa and Fontana Settino.
By 1911 the family had moved to 11 Main Street, Ferryhill. Mira Donnini, now aged 19, [died June 1939], Veronica, born 1908, {married a Celestino Passerotti in 1927}, died 1989, Caterina, born 1908, baptised 9th August 1908, Edward, born 1910, died 2nd July 1931, Doris, born 1914 died 1915, Alfredo Guiseppe, born 28th February 1918, died 1990, Rinalda N, born 1920, died 1920, Silvia, born 23rd December 1921, {married a Donald Putsman in 1946}, died 2004, Corrina Madalena born 22nd August 1923, died 1993 and Dennis Donnini, born 17th November 1925.
In 1927 Lewis was best man at Donn Passerotti Wedding, with his two sisters as bridesmaids.
Lewis married Ethel Adelaide [nee Foley] on the 7th February 1934, at the Church of Our Lady of Victoria, Easington. Ethel Foley was the only daughter of Mr and Mrs Michael Foley of Baldwin Street, Easington Colliery.
They had two children, Dino Michael, born 9th February 1937, who married Maureen Lavelle in 1965. Dino Michael died in 1998 at Stockton. Another son born 1941 Lewis J. married in 1969 to Elizabeth Adamson.
Lewis was in the Royal Army Service Corps as a Driver Service Number T/242466.
He died on the 1st May 1944 at Holywood Hall Sanatorium at Wolsingham.
He is not remembered on a local War Memorial.
