Donato Colalancia

In loving memory of Donato Colalancia

Donato Colalancia of Pueblo, Colorado, entered into eternal life surrounded by his family on February 24, 2024, at the age of 89. Donato was born on December 10, 1934, in the village of Cansano, located in the province of L’Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Southern Italy. He emigrated from Italy to the United States with his mother at the age of 16, joining his father who had been working in the coal mines in Southern Colorado during World War II. He graduated from Central High School in 1953, and briefly worked at the CF&I, until he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served honorably from 1957 to 1959. He was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, where he served as a staff supervisor for Japanese civil servants at the Nike Missile Base and achieved the rank of Corporal Specialist. When he returned to Pueblo, he met his devoted and loving wife, AnnaMarie Colalancia; they married on April 7, 1962, and raised four children.

Donato worked at Prudential Insurance Company for 30 years before he retired at the age of 58. He then became co-owner of the Mozart Restaurant. He loved to write, fish, ski, and bowl, and was an accomplished golfer. He enjoyed playing soccer, was a USSF-certified referee and helped establish the city soccer programs in Pueblo (PSSA). Donato, AnnaMarie, and the family loved to travel to his home in Cansano. He especially cherished his trip to the Holy Land. He was a talented singer and dancer and played the mandolin. He was a gifted wine maker and a member of the Order Sons of Italy in America, Southern Colorado Lodge #2738.

Donato is survived by his wife of 61 years, AnnaMarie Colalancia, his daughter Elisa Ann Therese Hawkins (Paul), and his three sons, Donato “Don” Anthony Colalancia (Therese), Marco Silverio Colalancia (Margo) and Michael Gregory Colalancia (Tressa). Donato cherished visits with his grandchildren; Christy Goode (Cory), Sara Colalancia (David Caporicci), Talia Marie Dempewolf (Jared), Serena Colalancia, and Luke and Nathaniel Hawkins. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Richard Concialdi (Anna Gaye). He truly enjoyed visiting with his many beloved nieces and nephews.

Donato was preceded in death by his parents Luciano Antonio and Martina Lucia Colalancia, his sister Annina, and his brothers: Joe (Rosa) and Silverio (Virginia) Colalancia, and granddaughter, Gianna Francesca Hawkins; his beloved in-laws, Sabio and Frances Concialdi and his sister-in-law Catherine.

Visitation (9 a.m.) and the Rosary (9:30 a.m.) will be held at St. Therese Catholic Church on March 4, 2024, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. The interment with military honors will follow at Roselawn Cemetery in Pueblo.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Donato may be made to the Sangre de Cristo Community Care/Joni Fair Hospice House in Pueblo, or to St. Therese Catholic Church, 300 Goodnight Ave., Pueblo, CO 81004.