MILDRED DeSANTIS

She was born May 30, 1931, in Steubenville, OH to the late Joe & Theresa Wilson. She graduated class of 1949 from Steubenville Big Red and class of 1953 as a registered nurse from the Ohio Valley School of Nursing in Steubenville. She was the retired owner/operator, with her husband, of the Follansbee Convenient Food Mart. She was a member of Follansbee St Anthony Church and St Vincent de Paul Church of Wheeling. She was also a member of the Altar and Rosary Society, Theta Chi Alpha Sorority and a 22 year volunteer with Valley Hospice.

As she would say to anyone who would listen, “Volunteering with Valley Hospice is one of the most rewarding endeavors of my life. As a poor child the Lions Club paid for my eye surgery and several pairs of glasses, a great organization.”

Devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Wootsie had a larger-than-life personality. Her greatest joy was spending time with her loving family and friends.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Tony DeSantis, in 2011; a grandson, Franco DeSantis, in 1990; and a sister, Anne (Bill) Shaw.

She is survived by three sons, Gregg (Mary) DeSantis, of Wellington, FL, Jay DeSantis, of Wheeling, WV, and Christopher DeSantis, of Charlotte, NC; two daughters, Lorri (Lance) Leonaitis, of Atlanta, GA and Toni (Ren) Carlisle, of Ashtabula, OH; her brother, Ken (Jo) Kucan, of Las Vegas, NV; her sister, Carol (Honey) Musante, of Follansbee, WV; 9 grandchildren, Tony (Aimee) DeSantis, Alyssa (Ben) Ohl, Olivia (John) Robinson, Isabelle and Emerson Leonaitis, Zoe (Ted Theofrastous) Carlisle, Tyler, Ford, and Clare Carlisle; 4 great-grand- children, Gianna, Sofia, Tessa, and Santino DeSantis; and several nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life is planned for Monday, April 8, 2024 from 4-8pm at the Follansbee Community House, 1425 Main St. Follansbee, WV (part of the city park).

A memorial mass will be celebrated at St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 2244 Marshall Ave. Wheeling, WV on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 11am, with Father Jeeson Stephan officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Valley Hospice, 10686 State Route 150, Rayland, OH 43943 or the Follansbee Lions Club, P.O. Box 516, Follansbee, WV 26037.

Condolence may be left for the family at www.kepnerfuneral. com. Kepner Funeral Home, 166 Kruger St. Wheeling, WV (304-242-2311).