Unexpectedly, on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. Wife of the late Norman Slazinski; daughter of Lou and the late Mary Viglione; beloved mother of Michael (Courtney) and A.J. (Kristan) Slazinski; Proud grandmother of Jeremy, Jake, Logan, and Luke; sister and best friend of Karen (Paul) Taylor; Aunt of Sean (Elizabeth) Windisch, Anthony Windisch, and Shannon (Dan) Muto, Marla (Derek) Kuntz, Chad (Savanna) Taylor, Brian (Melissa) Taylor; Great Aunt of Elliana, Louis, Landon, Malakai, Marina, Brynley, and Reed; Donna also leaves behind her beloved dog, Daisy, and many dear friends.
We celebrate the vibrant life of our beloved Donna. Donna was always so full of joy and lived her life like each day was her last. She was more than just a beautiful & smiling face with the best makeup anyone has ever seen. And she was more than just a daughter, a wife, a sister and a mother. For many, she was a grandmother, an aunt, a friend and even a “second mom” for Michael and AJ’s friends as they were growing up.
She was passionate about the healthy lifestyle she lived for so many years and loved to share her journey with anyone and everyone. She was fiercely loyal to her tribe and to those she loved. She was steadfast in her faith and nothing could shake it.
Donna danced through every season of life with such grace, (she absolutely loved to dance). You would never catch her without perfectly manicured nails and a bold lip color to match her personality. And she could rattle off every Pitt basketball roster for the last 20 years, along with the games highlights from the night before. #HailToPitt She was the most adoring wife to her late husband, Norman, and continued to honored him every day.
Though Donna is no longer with us, her legacy of love, kindness and joy will live on in our hearts forever. We miss her immensely and know we will see her again, one sweet day. Until then, keep dancing with the angels to Sweet Caroline.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the SZAFRANSKI-EBERLEIN FUNERAL HOME, INC., where family and friends will be received on Friday, September 19, 2025, from 2-7pm at 101 Third St., Carnegie. A Funeral Service will be held in the funeral home on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 10:00am. Following the Funeral Service, Donna will be laid to rest in Queen of Heaven Cemetery.
www.szafranski-eberleinfuneralhome.com (412)276-1107
Family Florals by:
Pete Donati and Sons
(412)835-4420
Eulogy by: Shannon Muto
Hello. I’m sure most of you know me, but for those of you that don’t, my name is Shannon, and I am Donna’s niece (although I was never just a niece to her). She always called me the daughter she never had and I truly believe she meant it.
The morning that she passed, after I had gone over to see her and say my final goodbyes, I took a walk downstairs into her living room to sit on her favorite couch for some comfort. I wanted to be able to feel her presence with the house untouched just as she had left it. As I was glancing around the room, I saw her shrine to Pitt and Uncle Norman on the fireplace mantle and out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a notepad with something scribbled on it. I could tell it was her handwriting, so I decided to read what it said. On the note pad was what I assumed to be one of her favorite Bible verses “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”. Isiah 41:10. As I sat and read it with tears trickling down my face, I couldn’t help but think what a perfect verse this was to acknowledge in all seasons of life, including this very heavy one we’re in right now. Aunt Donna was deeply rooted in her faith and would shout it from the rooftops if she could.
I have so many fond memories of Aunt Donna. So many that if I shared them all, we’d be here until Tuesday. From girls day shopping, to her making me Herbalife protein oatmeal when I was deep in the thick of collegiate dancing and also, I can’t forget the little chocolate Entamann’s donuts her and Uncle Norman would always keep stocked in their kitchen for me since they knew my mom would never buy them (sorry, mom take that up with Aunt Donna, not me).
Aunt Donna had such a loud and beautiful personality, but it wasn’t JUST her personality that was loud. Until recent months, if you knew her well, you knew she was ALWAYS the loudest person in the room. Her spirit was soft and kind, but her personality was bold and vibrant. She saw every storm that came her way as a chance to dance in the rain, and that’s exactly what she did until she took her last breath. She danced every chance she got. She danced in heels, she danced in tennis shoes. She danced barefoot and most notably, she danced in slippers to The Wobble and Mony Mony in Pap’s kitchen with my 2 year old son Malakai, who lovingly refers to her as “Don”. (We’re still working on the aunt part). She was a sports fanatic and a die-hard Pitt fan (which makes me cringe inside since I’m a Mountaineer). She would frequently text my husband at the end of a Pitt game (football or basketball - didn’t matter) and they would exchange feedback, future game predictions and so much more. I’m pretty sure she had Pitt going to at least the Sweet 16 in the March Madness tournament ever. Single. Year. Even when they were at their worst. And while it drove me crazy, it really just speaks to her unwavering support and loyalty.
She made everyone feel seen and loved. From family, and friends, to Herbalife coworkers and her church family, she was always a joy to be around. She loved her two boys, Michael and AJ, with every fiber of her being and I know how proud she was to call you her sons. And once it came time to add to the family tree, Aunt Donna’s heart grew tenfold with each grand baby added and each great niece and nephew that came along, all the way up to her most recent great niece Marina, who was just recently born in May.
Although she is no longer with us, her spirit is still very much alive in all that she loved and all who she loved and I choose to believe it always will be.
To my pap - your first baby girl. I know how much joy she brought you. You’d often roll your eyes at her ditzyness, but at the end of the day, you two were always on the same team. She took you to every doctor’s appointment and counted every pill you ever took. Take comfort in knowing how much she loved you.
To my Mom - you are her one and only sister. Her baby sister. The keeper of her secrets and her biggest dreams. You two fought like cats and dogs most days; but only the best siblings do (if you know, you know). She was your other half and I hope you know how just much she loved you too.
To Michael and AJ - my heart aches for you. I’m so sorry you have to navigate this great loss. She was so proud of you both and everyone knew that. She will continue to guide you with her light for the rest of your lives. Never forget that.
To everyone else in the room feeling this great loss - On the days that you feel sorrow or lost, I urge you to do what Aunt Donna would do. And that is to pray. Pray to the Lord for strength, comfort & guidance. And most importantly dance. Dance any chance you get. Dance in the rain, dance in your kitchen, dance in your bedroom or dance in your shower. It’s what she would’ve wanted, it’s what she would do.
To my beautiful aunt - I am forever grateful for everything you’ve done for my family and I. Thank you will never be enough. Keep shining your bright light down on us as we navigate the days ahead without you. You are the brightest star in our sky and the most beautiful Guardian Angel Heaven has ever seen.
We all love you, we miss you terribly and we’ll be seeing you💜may you rest in eternal peace at the hands of our Father now and forever
Funeral Service Opening Comments by: Pastor Tom Fodi
Today we gather to remember and celebrate the life of Donna Slazinski. Donna was a lot of things to a lot of people. Donna was a wife to Norm. She was daughter to Lou and Mary. She was a sister and best friend to Karen (Paul). Donna was a mother to Michael (Courtney) and AJ (Kristan), and grandmother to Jeremy, Jake, Logan and Luke. Donna was an aunt and great aunt to many and a dear friend to many more. Most importantly, Donna was a sacred daughter of God in whom her heavenly Father was “well pleased.” Donna was a woman of abiding faith who cared immensely for others and, in her own uniquely wonderful way, she embodied the love of God for the world around her.
The service today will not simply be a time of mourning and grief, though we do grieve Donna’s death. This service will also be a celebration of Donna’s life and, even more so, this service will be a celebration of the hope of the resurrection to eternal life she and we hold dear.
For those of whom I don’t know personally, my name is Tom and I was blessed with the privilege of serving as Donna’s pastor for more than a decade. Since its inception, Donna was a cornerstone member of The Hills Church. Beyond that though, I was doubly blessed with the ability to describe Donna as a dear personal friend (that’s not something every pastor can say about every member of their church, but in this case, it was absolutely the case).
Whether you called Donna mom or grandma, sister or aunt, daughter or friend, we are all here this morning because you loved Donna. She was a fixture in your life. The void she has left behind is piercing and real. The heartache and yearning for one more hug, one more laugh, one more dance, or one more family dinner night is not something we will fix this morning. But, I pray this service celebrating Donna and the God whom Donna so openly loved and served will help us move toward what the Apostle Paul once described as “the peace which surpasses all understanding.”
Join me as we begin the service with a word of prayer…
Gracious Heavenly Father, your word declares YOU are “our refuge and strength,” and YOU “our ever-present help in trouble.” Lord, we need you in that way right here, right now. Our hearts are heavy and our grief is raw. Donna was cherished by so many. She was an irreplaceable fixture in our lives and, for that, Lord, we give you thanks and praise. We thank you for allowing us the privilege of knowing and loving Donna. We thank you for the way she made us laugh, the way she brought a smile to our face, and the wisdom she shared in both word and deed.
This morning, Father, as we mourn Donna’s death, we seek the peace which surpasses all understanding. We seek the shelter of your love and grace. May your Spirit rest upon us and give us hope as we look forward to the day of resurrection and the renewal of all things. Your love, the presence of friends and family, and your word comfort us. Be with us now we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
