Obituary of Domenica LaSpisa

Domenica, better known to her friends and family as Mimma, was born on Nov. 3rd 1928 to Rosario and Girolama Cassata in a small mountain village named Ventimiglia di Sicilia, in the suburbs of Palermo, Italy. It was the type of town where everyone in the community knew each other, and neighbors were like extended family. She also had four sisters named Ignazia (deceased in 2012), Rosaria, Salvatrice and Rosetta. Ventimiglia is also where she met the love of her life, John La Spisa, whom she married in 1949 and with whom she had two children named Rosaria and Franco. They were married for 67 years until her husband's passing in 2016. In December of 1967 Mimma and John made the decision to leave the only place they ever knew in search of a better life for their family in America. They eventually settled in the Bronx, NY to begin the next chapter of their lives. Mimma worked as a seamstress for a while before retiring early to help raise her grandchildren. Family was the most important part of her life, but when she wasn't spending time with family, she enjoyed sewing, cooking and baking. On Christmas Eve 2019, Mimma lost her battle with Alzheimer's with her family by her side, fighting until the very end to spend as time as possible with her loved ones. Mimma is survived by her two children, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, as well as three of her sisters in Sicily. She will be remembered for her love, strength, kindness, warmth and compassion, and she will be missed on both sides of the ocean. Friends may call on Friday from 4PM to 8PM at Sinatra Memorial Home, Inc., 499 Yonkers Ave., Yonkers, NY. The funeral will be Saturday at 9:30 at St. Barnabas Church, 409 E. 241st St., Bronx. Entombment will be in Ferncliff Cemetery, Hartsdale.