Obituaries

Dorothy Louise Fiori Sbanotto

Dorothy Louise Fiori Sbanotto died Feb. 20, 2012, at her home in Tontitown, Ark. She was 91 years old. She was born Sept. 7, 1920, in Tontitown, the fourth of seven children born to Pete Fiori and Mary Cortiana Fiori. She is survived by her children, Pete and wife Elaine of Siloam Springs, Harry Jr. of Siloam Springs, Tony and wife Donna of Tontitown, Dennis of Fort Smith, David and wife Vanessa of Tontitown, Bob of Springdale, Betty and the late Dr. Wallace Rolniak of Rogers; 19 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and her sister, Elise Mae Pianalto of Tontitown. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Harry Sbanotto, to whom she was married Nov. 10, 1943; one grandchild; her parents; and five siblings. Dorothy was a graduate of Mount St. Mary's Academy in Little Rock and became a registered nurse after completing training at Warner Brown Hospital in El Dorado, Ark. She served as a nurse in the U.S. Army during World War II. After marriage and military discharge, she and her husband moved back to Arkansas, eventually settling in their hometown of Tontitown where she became a farm wife, assisting her husband, caring for their children and keeping family and friends well fed. She had an interest in genealogy and in later years volunteered at the Tontitown Historical Museum. Dorothy was a lifelong Roman Catholic and was an active member of St. Joseph's Church in Tontitown. The pallbearers include her grandsons, Stephen Sbanotto, James Sbanotto, John Sbanotto, Daniel Sbanotto, Adam Sbanotto and Matthew Rolniak. Visitation will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, with Rosary service at 5:30 p.m. at the St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Tontitown. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, Feb. 24, 2012, at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph's with Father Greg Hart officiating. Burial will be in the St. Joseph's cemetery under the direction of the Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home of Springdale. Online guestbook at www.backstrom-pyeatte.com.

Published February 22, 2012

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