Donna M. Brienzo

Donna M. Brienzo, 78, of Sioux City died Sunday, May 18, 2008, at a Sioux City hospital following a brief illness.

Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at St. Thomas Orthodox Church, with the Rev. Paul Hodge officiating. Burial will be in St. Thomas Orthodox Cemetery in Graceland Park Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, 2008 with a Trisagion service at 8 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel, 6200 Morningside Ave.

Donna was born Aug. 20, 1929, in Sioux City, the daughter of Michael and Delia (Ellis) Skaff. She graduated from East High School.

She was married to Frank Brienzo in 1950 in Sioux City. He preceded her in death in 1952 in Sioux City. She worked for several years as a credit manager for Fishgall's, a women's clothing store, in downtown Sioux City. She relocated to Amarillo, Texas, in the 1970s, working at IBP. She returned to Sioux City and worked briefly at Iowa Public Service before retiring. She was called out of retirement to support the family business, Skaff Service Station, running the accounting activities.

She was an avid reader, enjoyed attending the Sioux City Symphony concerts, practicing the organ and attending cultural events at Northpark Senior Living Community. She was a longtime member of St. Thomas Orthodox Church, where she served as church organist for more then 40 years and played for countless weddings and funerals in the Siouxland area. She also served as a Sunday School teacher and an officer of the church Women's Club.

Survivors include three children, Frank Brienzo of Sioux City, Michael Brienzo of Sioux City and Lisa Brienzo of St. Paul, Minn.; four grandchildren, Matt, Megan, Michael and Rachel Brienzo; a great-grandchild, Jacob; a brother, Michael (Barb) Skaff Jr. of Sioux City; and two sisters, Jeanette (Ralph) Clair of Phoenix, Ariz., and Dee (Terry) Jones of LaValle, Wis.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Delia Skaff of Sioux City; her husband; and a sister, Mollie Malenoski of Fremont, Neb.

Pallbearers will be Mark Lockwood, Julie Skaff-Gregg, Mollie Jones, Cody Jones, Matt Brienzo, Charese Yanney and Michael Skaff.

Memorials may be made to St. Thomas Church.