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Donato “Don” Di Giovannantonio (aka Don Antonio) was born in Cermignano, Italy on November 15, 1947 and passed away on March 20, 2017 in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, following a lengthy battle with pulmonary fibrosis.

Don emigrated to Canada at the age of 12 and was proud to be a citizen of this country. He had a long and successful career in the hospitality industry, starting as a dishwasher at the Highlander Hotel in Calgary and progressing through various positions up to assistant general manager at the Carriage House Inn. Don purchased his first hotel at the age of 30 and subsequently owned and operated other hotel properties, including the Cedar Lodge in Fernie from 1981 to 1998.

Don enjoyed fishing, gardening, cooking and discussing current events. He felt most at home in a kitchen, where he was best known for his prime rib, turkey dinners and homemade Caesar salad dressing. Working with Don was not always easy on account of his colourful personality, but one could always expect an exchange of friendly banter and a pat on the back at the end of a shift.

Don was predeceased by his parents Antonietta and Domenic; brothers Alfredo and Pasquale; and sisters Ida and Maria. Left to mourn his loss are his beloved wife Liz; sons Mike (Vas) and Steve; grandchildren Jesse, Ivy, Blake and Dominic; sisters Ada (Luciano) and Lucia; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Prayers were held at St. Matthew Roman Catholic Church in Rocky Mountain House, Alberta on Sunday, March 26, 2017 at 7:00 P.M.

Mass of the Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Matthew Roman Catholic Church, 5208 53 Ave, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta on Monday, March 27, 2017 at 1:00 P.M. Interment will take place at Queen’s Park Cemetery, 3219 4 St. N.W. Calgary, Alberta on Friday March 31, 2017 at 3:30 P.M.

As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations in Don’s memory may be made to the Alberta Lung Association for Pulmonary Fibrosis Research, P.O. Box 4500 Station South, Edmonton, AB T6E 6K2, or https://www.ab.lung.ca/donate.

Condolences may be forwarded to www.rockyfuneralhome.ca

Rocky and Sylvan Lake Funeral Homes and Crematorium, your Golden Rule Funeral Homes, entrusted with the arrangements. 403-845-2626