Obituary of Paul C Dondero

Paul Charles Dondero, 82, passed away at home on 9 March in Vineland, NJ after a long fight with numerous medical issues.

Son of Eugenie Spieker (Scarani) and Carlo Davide Dondero (Father) and George Spieker (Stepfather), he was born 6 November, 1941 in Vineland, NJ. He graduated Sacred Heart High School in 1959 and attended both Saint Louis and Drexel Universities. He married the love of his life, Agnes Maude Dondero (Reager) of Bridgeton, NJ on 19 September 1964. They would have been married 60 years this coming Fall. He worked his entire career with New Jersey Bell and later Bell Atlantic, rising from Lineman to Telecommunications Engineer earning a US Patent for his work along the way. He also proudly served 21 years as a Soldier and Officer with the New Jersey Army National Guard rising from Private to Major in the Artillery, Armor, and Quartermaster Corps. During his military career he earned numerous awards and decorations. He was most proud of earning the Draper Armor Award for Leadership Excellence. He and Aggie loved boating and shared that love with their children and their many friends, as well as teaching numerous others over the years to boat safely with the Power Squadron. He also loved tinkering with cars and owned numerous interesting vehicles throughout his lifetime. He was an exceptional fixer of all things structural and mechanical. During his retirement years he enjoyed travel both locally and abroad, recently achieving a bucket list item of traveling to Iceland.

He was preceded to heaven by his father, mother, and stepfather, and his beloved brother David and niece Anna Marie. He is survived by Aggie, his wife and mother of his children, Lisa Riggio of Vineland, NJ and her son Anthony; Stephen Dondero and his wife Anne and their daughter Rose; sister Jennifer Spieker of New Hope, PA, step-brother Murray Spieker of Vineland, NJ and step sister Georgeanne Sayre of Springfield, OR; sisters-in law Anna Reager of Bridgeton, NJ and Rebecca Dondero of Wake Forest, NC. as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Paul was a cherished and loved father, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. His passing was sudden but not unexpected. He fought very hard but is thankfully no longer in pain.

While we lost our most beloved dad, brother, and grandfather many have lost a friend and loved one in him. He was always there when he was needed whether you knew you needed help or not. He was fiercely loving and loyal to those he cared about. He was very practical but also had a great sense of humor. There was so much more to him than just dad, though to us that was his greatest role and he loved it.

It was his wish that we remember him and his life with joy as a life well lived.

Relatives and friends will be received on Friday, March 15, 2024, from 10:00am until 11:00am at St. Padre Pio Parish/Our Lady of Pompeii Church, 4680 Dante Ave., Vineland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00am. Interment will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Vineland.