Donald J. Abbott was born on September 20, 1926, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Michael Joseph and Mildred Elizabeth Hamilton Abbott. He was a resident of the Brookline neighborhood in the South Hills of Pittsburgh since childhood.

Donald J. Abbott married widow Aleene Josephine (Baldauf) Martin on September 6, 1952. Aleene's first husband was Harold F. Martin (Born February 19, 1920, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Died November 30, 1948, from a hunting accident in Elk County, Pennsylvania.) Don and Aleene celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on September 6, 2002, shortly before Aleene's passing.

Don was employed by Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Downtown Pittsburgh as a supervisor. He trained people on computers and also traveled to hospitals around the area, training people on computers and solving problems.

Don was a parishioner at the Church of the Resurrection in Brookline since childhood and a pillar of the church. He served in the following capacities:

Member of the Worship Committee

Minister of the Eucharist, both at Masses and to the homebound

Altar server at morning Masses and at funeral Masses

Money counter

CCD Teacher (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine - Religious Education) for 30 years

Parish Financial Council

Parish School Board

Parish festival ("Fun Flair") volunteer

Decorated the church for Christmas and Easter

Purchased the Nativity Set used inside the church

Paid for the restoration of 4 stained glass windows in the chapel

in memory of his wife Aleene, sons Alan and Grant,

and in honor of the CCD teachers at Resurrection.

Instrumental in the conversion of the 1909 Resurrection School

into Creedmoor Court (senior housing).

Member of the Knights of Columbus, 4th Degree, the highest.

Don was still active in the parish, taking communion to the homebound until he moved to Brookdale, a senior residence, in the Mt. Lebanon suburb in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, around 2018. He passed away there on March 19, 2020, under the care of Hospice. Don died on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the patron of a happy death.

He is survived by his son Kevin (Edna) Abbott; 3 granddaughters: Amanda (Ryan) Mahaffey, Elizabeth (Nicholas) Quaglia, and Cynthia Abbott; and 4 great-grandchildren: Grayson and Scarlett Mahaffey, and Aria and Penelope Quaglia.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Aleene Josephine Abbott; his sons, Alan Jeffrey Abbott and Grant John Abbott; his parents; 2 brothers, Robert M. and John Canice Abbott; and 2 sisters, Regina M. Lang and Ruthell Marx.

Arrangements were by Beinhauer Funeral Home, Dormont. A private funeral Mass was celebrated at the Church of the Resurrection, St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish, by the previous pastor, Fr. Frank Mitolo, assisted by Don's friend, Deacon Rich Longo.

A Memorial Mass, open to all, was celebrated on September 19, 2020,

(the day before Don's 94th birthday), at the Church of the Resurrection.

Celebrant: Pastor, Fr. James Bachner, assisted by Deacon Rich Longo.

Homily: Fr. Bachner. Eulogy/homily: Deacon Rich Longo.

Brief remarks by son Kevin Abbott.

Lectors: Dee Fitzsimmons, Margaret Loria

Readings:

Isaiah 25: 7-8

1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18

John 14: 1-6

Hymns:

Entrance : "Be Not Afraid"

Responsorial Psalm: "Shepherd Me, O God"

Celtic Alleluia

Offertory: "Make Me A Channel of Your Peace"

Communion: "On Eagles Wings"

Recessional: "For All the Saints"

Information from Beinhauer Funeral Home website, Don's friend Mary Carl, from marriage license and death certificate documents, and from personal knowledge. Submitted by friend Angela, Member #48520699.