Obituary of Donna Lee Bongiorno

Donna Lee Bongiorno passed away suddenly, surrounded by her adoring family on November 2, 2023. She was 78 years old.

Born in Queens, NY, to parents Joseph and Ruth Striffler, Donna lived in Eastchester, NY, before settling in Brookside, NJ, her home of 33 years. She was a woman of immense faith and a parishioner of Christ the King Church in New Vernon and a previous parishioner of St. Joseph Church in Mendham.

Donna was very involved with her religious community and was generous with her time. She volunteered at St. Joseph Church for many years, serving as a Eucharistic Minister and caring for her community during their hardest times as a member of the Bethany Ministry. She was a renowned cook amongst family, friends, and her community, very often hosting or providing food for church events and other gatherings. Among the myriad dishes she could expertly prepare, her family will most fondly remember her culinary pièce de resistance and everyone’s favorite meal of the year: the traditional Christmas Eve Feast of the Seven Fishes.

Whether going out for an upscale dinner, cooking in her own kitchen, or caring for infant grandchildren, Donna always dressed exquisitely; her neatly coiffed platinum bob paired perfectly with her classic and elegant makeup and manicured nails (done by her friend of 30 years, Eunice).

Above all else, Donna cherished time spent with her family; her daughters and her grandchildren were her biggest accomplishment and greatest joy.  Most recently, she loved to be on the sidelines of soccer and basketball games, cheering at a cross country meet or enjoying a stage performance of her beloved granddaughters.

Donna joins her granddaughter Anna Lee Bjorkedal in eternal rest. She is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Andrew Bongiorno, daughters Jessica Bongiorno (formerly Nik Bjorkedal) and Andrea (Seth) Morgan, brother Robert (Sheila) Striffler, sisters Joyce (Steve) Rosler and Darlene Striffler, and granddaughters, Mia and Maren Bjorkedal, and Olivia and Samantha Morgan.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 7, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM at Bailey Funeral Home, 8 Hilltop Road, Mendham NJ. Visitation will be followed by a 12 noon Funeral Mass at Christ the King Church, 16 Blue Mill Road, Harding. Entombment at Holy Rood Cemetery, Whippany Rd, Morristown, NJ. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in Donna’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association,