Elisabeth Charlotte Domanico

Elisabeth (“Lilo”, “Lee”) Charlotte Domanico, March 27, 2020 Elisabeth Domanico, 84, peacefully finished growing her new Angel wings, on Friday, March 27, 2020. She spread them wide, and rose up to be with our Lord and family, friends, and new friends, to eternally hug, kiss, rejoice, and reside in the peace and beauty we here can only imagine. We take comfort in knowing she is being welcomed and she will be there to welcome us all when GOD calls us home. Lilo was born in May 1935, in Munich, Germany, the 7th of 8 children of Lorenz and Katharina (Wittmair) Hausberger. Four years later, WWII broke out, taking the lives of her father and beloved older brother. Lilo and younger brother, Erwin, were sent to Aichach to live with a grandmother. Though the ravages of war and the scarcities were inescapable, they and cousin Traudl still have many shared fond memories. Brother and sister were able to return to war-torn Munich, reuniting with their mother and other siblings. They finished out their latter years of schooling, and afterwards, Lilo moved on to work, and become a Dental Assistant in Kaiserslautern, Landstuhl and Ramstein. Over the next couple of years in Germany, Lilo formed life-long friendships with Brigitta and Tom Aumen, Janet DeOrio, and the Crumps (Jim, Jeannette and Sherry) who welcomed her into their home, offering to adopt her and take her back to the United States with them. These friends maintained unwavering support of each other and their growing families, through the good and bad, and enjoyed many visits, good times, and memorable vacations together. The love of Lilo’s life was a handsome young Air Force Staff Sargeant, Mike Domanico, whom she met and dated, while they both were at Ramstein. Mike sought the Crumps’ permission to ask Lilo to marry him, and they were married February 12, 1955. Shortly thereafter, Mike returned stateside with his beautiful new German bride and introduced her to his Italian family. It didn’t take her long to win them over; so much so, they offered to take care of her so she could continue her career, while Mike was stationed in Hawaii. She chose to be with him and they gave birth to their 1st daughter, Joyce, in Hawaii. Their 2nd child, David, passed shortly after birth, in Mississippi. Mike was the only relative to see and hold their son. Mike’s military career spanned another 10 years after David’s birth, with each move lasting approximately 2 ½ years, making it difficult for Lilo to continue her career, but she managed several short-term positions, garnering praise for her competency and work ethics at each job. She also taught at the University of Pittsburgh, while pregnant with a 3rd child, who passed before birth. The University wanted her to stay, but once again, she believed her place was with her husband. Their 4th child, April, was born in Texas, while Mike was part-way through a tour of duty in Vietnam. The friendship and support of new friends on base helped Lilo and 10 year old Joyce make it through that pregnancy, birth, and cleaning and packing to move to the next duty station, Germany, as soon as Mike returned. (Oh, and Lilo also had to learn how to drive before Mike had shipped out!) Back to Germany, with a 10 year old and a 5 month old. 5th child, Andrew was born there. The family had a wonderful time there, reacquainting with Lilo’s large family, forming new friendships, hosting family and friends on vacation from U.S., and travelling. Many, many wonderful, happy memories were made. Mike’s last assignment was for 1 year in NJ. Mike and Lilo had bought a house, but decided not to stay in the cold climate. The Crumps had retired to Florida, so Mike and Lilo decided that was where they would move. Mike didn’t want to deal with the snow. So, Florida has been the Domanico family home since 1971. Same house. So, Florida is where Lilo eventually was re-nicknamed “Lee”. With 2 children, not of school age, Lee had her hands full, but she still applied for Dental Hygiene jobs. Unfortunately, since she hadn’t been working for a few years, prospective employers underestimated her knowledge and capabilities. Lee’s last 47+ years, aside from homemaking, child-rearing, caring for family , friends and neighbors, and travelling, have been spent in the fields of education (Teaching and Substitute Teaching) childcare, running the church nursery for many years, and volunteering with Orange County Extension Center, Library, 4H, youth programs, youth theater, Singing Boys and Girls, Orlando Deanery Boys Choir, Church Groups, Bob Carr, Ronald McDonald House, assisting with visiting foreign students, and countless other charities and endeavors (sewing, crocheting, knitting, needle pointing, embroidering, plastic canvas stitching, quilting with the ‘Material Girls’ and more. The baby booties, socks, caps, blankets and the quilts she helped make brought comfort to many recipients. She and Mike loved to do artwork and make decorations and work in the yard together. In later years, when Mike grew a full white beard and added a bit of girth to his frame, he became ‘Santa’, the grandkids often were elves, and when ‘Mrs Santa’ needed a break, Lee came from the sidelines and filled the roll a few times, as they worked various functions and charities. Lilo was an instrumental influence to 2 nieces, Gloria and Patty, who followed in her footsteps, enjoying long, successful careers in Dental Hygiene and Dental Education. She was so proud of them. Lilo and Mike were blessed, in later years to be able to travel and frequently joined with the above nieces and their families, cousins Sylvia and Chris, Janet and family, and other friends, too numerous to mention. Lilo loved to travel back to Germany, solo, or with a friend. Good Times. She would also take trips and vacations with her womens’ and church groups. And, every chance she got, she would take her children and grandchildren, wanting to share as much as she could with them. Church was an important part of her life. Though she grew up Catholic, she became a member of Reformation Lutheran Church after being the children’s nursery caregiver for several years. Lee loved the intimacy of the small church, where most everyone knows each other and she could freely HUG everyone and anyone, garnering her another nickname: the “hugging” or “huggy” lady. Thank-you to Pastor Robert Cosmas, his predecessor, Pastor Paul Bergstresser (deceased), and to all the church ‘family’ for all their love and support, over so many years. Lee and Mike have many longtime friends and cherished memories from each of Mike’s duty stations, and many, many more, made over the 49 years of residing in Florida. There are too many to name, and it would be regretful to slight anyone. Just know your friendship meant a lot and you were loved. And lastly, thank-you to Lee’s caregivers, staff, co-residents and their families, over the last 1 ½ years at BrainFlex, Sutton Homes, Thornton Gardens, and to Cori. Thank-you all for caring. The highlight of Lee’s last few days, came about, as an unexpected blessing of Covid19, which was responsible for the banishment of visitors to Assisted Living Facilities, one of which Lee was a resident. Churches were forced to go ‘online’, as a viable option to make services available to their congregations. As a result, Lee had the opportunity to hear and see the few services that had just come online. At the recognition of the voices of Pastor, Tom, Paul and Darlene, she opened her eyes and stared wide-eyed and fixated on the tiny cell phone screen for the entireties of each service, knowing that was her church, her Pastor and others, her Bell Tower, and she even moved her mouth to the Lord’s Prayer and music. It is comforting to know, in the end, she knew her church was there, and Lee was at peace. AMEN Lee was pre-deceased by her sons David (1961) and Andrew (1999), and her husband of 57 years Michael (2012), as well as sisters, brothers, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and nieces and nephews, German and American. And, many a friend. Her immediate survivors are daughters Joyce Domanico (Becky Reed), April Nabors (Wade); grandchildren Katherine and Brandon: great grandchildren Draven, Anthony and Kenna, all of whom she never missed a chance to express her love for. Lee never judged. She always said that is God’s job and everyone will have to answer to Him. Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” There will be no viewing. A Celebration of Life will be held at date and time to be determined later. Please, No Flowers, nor Gifts. If you wish to give a donation to the church, in her name, you may do so at: Reformationlutheranorlando.org Tap the ‘Menu’ and click on ‘Give’

Elisabeth Charlotte Domanico

May 22, 1935 - March 27, 2020