Obituary of Donna Lee Stratioti

Donna Lee (Stauber) Stratioti, 71, of Duluth, died October 2, 2020, at Benedictine Health Center’s Safe Harbor where she had been a resident for several years.

Donna was born in Duluth November 14, 1948, to Edward and Kathleen Stauber. She graduated from Duluth Cathedral High School in 1966. After graduation, she worked for a time before marrying in 1968. She followed her husband during his military service to live in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Portland, Oregon, before returning to Duluth to raise their three children.

She loved children. She did in-home daycare for more than 30 years before retiring in 2011. The piano was her instrument of choice and there was not a song in the Disney songbook that she wouldn’t play to entertain the kids in her care. Some of the kids even knew how to sing, and spell, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

Donna found her creative niche with knitting, and she was at her best when she was creating something for her family or to donate to Bundles of Love. Many family members have enjoyed the warmth provided by one of her afghans.

Donna is survived by her siblings, Edwardeen (John) Thompson, Elizabeth (A. Ronald) Stauber-Johnson, Kathleen (Jack) Johnson, Mary Jill (Michael) Busam, and Richard Stauber; her children, Anne Stratioti (Tony) Cooper, Robert Stratioti, and Emily Stratioti as well as her granddaughter, Gabrielle Stratioti, and many nieces and nephews.

Thank you to the staff at Benedictine Health Center’s Safe Harbor for the excellent care and compassion, to Essentia Hospice for all the guidance and help, and to our family and friends for their loving support.

Visitation will be Saturday, October 17 at 10:00 am at St. James Catholic Church 715 N 57^th Ave West, Duluth with Mass to follow at 11:00 am. If you choose to attend, please wear a mask, honor social distancing, and sit with your family or spaced out in designated pews. Donna will be privately laid to rest with her father at Oneota Cemetery later.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Bundles of Love, the Boys & Girls Club, or the Valley Youth Center in Duluth.  Arrangements by Cremation Society of Minnesota Duluth.