Obituary of Donna P. Venuti

Donna Priano Venuti, 81, of Geneva, passed away peacefully on June 6, 2024, with her family by her side. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Francis DeSales Catholic Church on Monday, June 10, 2024, at 10:30am. Burial will be at Brookside Cemetery on Snell Road. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Donna's memory to the American Diabetes Association. Donna was born on June 19, 1942, and raised in Geneva, NY. She embarked on her entrepreneurial journey early in life. After graduating from Geneva High School in 1960, she went on to study cosmetology at Pauldine's in Elmira, NY. With scissors in hand and a keen eye for style, she opened her salon, Fashionaire, in 1963 where she not only transformed hair but also built lasting connections with her clients, who became more like family. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Donna embraced the art of ceramics, mastering the delicate craft with finesse and creativity and ultimately sharing her love of the art by teaching others. Her handcrafted pieces and those of her students adorned homes and hearts, each one bearing the mark of her passion and dedication. In 1985, Donna and her sister Elizabeth relocated their hair salons and opened Kwanzan Commons on Hamilton Street. There she ran several businesses, including Pony Express, one of the first country stores in Geneva, which sold quilts, folk art, early American lamps and collectibles. With a love for both baking and cooking, she ventured into the culinary world, delighting taste buds with her delectable pies at Just Cookies N Pies and mouthwatering pasta dishes at Pasta Only. Her food gained quite a following with students from the colleges, many of whom returned to Geneva for an Italian meal at Pasta Only years after graduating. Continuing her love of restaurant ownership, Donna was also a co-proprietor of Francesco's Italian Restaurant on West Lake Road. Despite running multiple successful businesses, she is most remembered by her family for hosting holidays in her restored farmhouse on Turk Road. Those gatherings will long be remembered for the talent contests, amazing food, laughter, and Christmas carols played on the kazoo. Especially memorable is the "roaring fire" of '82 which will not be forgotten as the Thanksgiving spent on the lawn while the fire department saved the house. Donna spent her later years entertaining the aides and nurses at Geneva Living Center North, where everyone was given a nickname and they all had their own pet names for her. The family is grateful for the dedication and loving care provided to Donna by all the staff. Donna is survived by her sisters Elizabeth (Larry) Johnson and Gloria Decker, her aunts, Elizabeth Leroy and Suzanne Yates, her uncle, Rocco Morabito, her niece Sarah (Douglas) Flannery, nephew Brian (Veronica) Decker, several Venuti nieces and nephews, and many cousins. She was predeceased by her parents, Samuel and Dominica Morabito Priano, her longtime partner, Robert Nichols, brother-in-law, Henry Decker, and several aunts and uncles. Throughout her career, Donna embodied the spirit of entrepreneurship, fearlessly pursuing her dreams. Her legacy lives on in the businesses she built, the lives she touched, and the inspiration she instilled in others.