Lee Ditta passed away peacefully on January 1, 2007 at 81 years of age. Lee was born July 15, 1925 to Frank and Salvatrice Ditta. He was the last surviving child of thirteen. Lee served in the Houston Fire Department for 35 years and retired as a Senior Captain. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Rosella Ditta. Lee's true joys in life came from his Grandchildren. As he always told anyone who would listen, "they are my Heart and Soul" and each and every one of them cherished their Paw Paw. Survivors include his children, Theresa Lynn Whatley and husband Larence, Lee Ditta, Jr., Frank Carl Ditta and wife Kelly and Lisbeth Ann Dunn and husband Keith; Granddaughters, Peggy Michelle Brignac and Katherine Mary Whatley. Grandsons, Larence Mack Whatley, III, Garrett Ditta Whatley, Michael Lee Ditta, Brian Taylor Ditta, Keith Woodbury Ditta, Matthew Isaac Brignac and Michael Joseph Brignac. Numerous special nieces and nephews. Friends are cordially invited to attend the visitation, Thursday, January 4, 2007, from 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Friday, January 5, in the Main Chapel of Forest Park Lawndale. Father Charles Samperi, Celebrant. Grandsons serving as pallbearers, Larence Whatley, III, Michael Brignac, Garrett Whatley, Michael Ditta, Brian Taylor Ditta and Keith Ditta. Interment will follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.

Published in Houston Chronicle on January 3, 2007                                 Listing for Findagrave.com 

The Houston Post  Tuesday, April 17, 1948

DONNELLY WILL BE BURIED IN NEW FIREMAN'S GARB

Henry Donnelly, who fought fires in Houston from 1887 until his retirement in 1945 at the age of 78 will be buried Sunday in a brand new fireman's uniform.The "Grand old man of the fire department" died Friday in his home at 809 Welch. Mr. Donnelly, who rose to captain in the fire department decided to make fire-fighting his career even before the department used horses for hauling its equipment. That was 61 years ago. His strength and endurance were amazing. One of his daughters, Mrs. G. Latimer said he had an operation just last August.  The doctor remarked that for his age the fire-fighter had the strongest heart and constitution of any person he had ever examined."Everyone loved that old man", Deputy Chief T. F. Powers, who has known Mr. Donnelly 33 years, said.  "They loved him not only because he was a devoted fireman but because he was a grand man. And Active?  Why, that old man was going strong right up until his retirement," he said. One other living fireman, R. F. Ollre, has served as long as Mr. Donnelly did. Because he hated to be left alone and always loved being kidded and spoken to by the younger firemen, Donnelly was the grand old man of the fire department in every sense of the word," Fire Chief Roy Whittlesey said. Chief Whittlesey is seeing to it that Mr. Donnelly gets the new uniform he asked for shortly before his death. Mr. Donnelly's only serious injury during his 57 years of fighting fires occurred during the North Main tunnel fire about 30 years ago. He stepped on a live wire while battling the blaze and the shock damaged his left eye.  It was removed several years later.

Funeral services for the native Houstonian will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday in the Hyde Park funeral home.  Rev. R. F. Halbert will officiate.

He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Jeanette Donnelly; two sons, E. H. Donnelly and Marvin Lee Ellis, both of Houston; four daughters, Mrs. Stanley S. Newberg of Boston, Mass., Mrs. John Petrosky, Mrs. Tony Dietz and Mrs. Georgia Latimer, all of Houston, 23 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Six fire department chiefs will be active pallbearers.

Edward Bernard Doolin, 75, of Houston passed away Tuesday, January 31, 2006. He was born April 27, 1930. Doolin is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Mary Doolin; 4 children, Christina, Edward, Robert, John; 3 grandchildren, Tishann, Rory, and Shawn. Funeral services will be 2:30 PM Friday, February 3, 2006 at Forest Park Lawndale in the Chapel of Angels. Burial will follow in Forest Park Lawndale. Visitation will be Friday, February 3, 2006 from 12:30 to 2:30 PM. In lieu of normal remembrances, Doolin would've liked donations to the National Rifleman's Association.S

Thomas Ivan Downey Born on July 17, 1934 to the late William E. and Martha Pauline Downey, Tom was called home on December 31, 2003. He is survived by his wife Florence Garcia Downey of 49 years and his three surviving children; David Downey, Donna Vasquez and Karen Downey. He is also survived by seven grandchildren; Luke and Brian Downey, Heather and Nicole Vasquez, Chris, Chuck, and Clint Gregory, as well as three great grandchildren; Adrian, Alex and Isaac Vasquez. He dedicated 25 years of his life as a firefighter for the City of Houston. He was a devoted husband and father as well as a wonderful and sincere grandfather and great grandfather. It is in his strength and wisdom we also find strength within ourselves in this time of mourning. We continue to place our faith and hearts with the Lord knowing He places us here but only for a short time and will soon call us home. May our loss not shadow all the laughter, guidance, wisdom and dedication to our family that he left us with. Our hearts remain filled with his memory forever. Visitation will be held at Forest Park East Funeral Home on Sunday evening from 5pm - 8pm with a rosary to be held at 7pm. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Monday morning at 10am at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with entombment to follow at Forest Park East Cemetery.
Published in the Houston Chronicle on 1/3/2004.                                               Listing on Findagrave.com

 Luke Joseph Dragna, 84, was born on December 3, 1919 and died June 12, 2004. Luke was a Second World War Veteran. He worked 37 years as a firefighter for the Houston Fire Department. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Society. Luke was also a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church. He leaves behind his beloved wife of 59 years, Katherine Falco Dragna; two sons and daughters-in-law, Blasé J. Dragna and wife, Mary, Charles Dragna and wife, Annette; six grandchildren, Michael Dragna and wife Cheryl, Chris Dragna, Lisa Dragna Jessup and husband, Zack, and Vickie Dragna; four great-grandchildren, Katie Dragna, Kara Dragna, Haley Marie Jessup, Rebecca Jessup, and preceded in death by baby Andrew Jessup; two sisters, Vancie Corte of Shiner, TX and Laura De Leo from Bryan, TX; one brother and sister-in-law, Charles Dragna and wife, Dorothy from Willis, TX. Visitation will be held Monday, June 14, 2004, from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary being recited at 7:00 p.m. by Father Benjamin Smaistrla. The Sacred Heart Society will also recite a Rosary at 7:30p.m. at Earthman North Chapel 5100 North Freeway. Funeral Mass will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 15, 2004, at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 4213 Mangum Rd., Houston, TX 77092 with Father Benjamin Smaistrla officiating. Interment will follow in Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery (Garden of Gethsemane), Houston, Texas. Pallbearers will be Michael Dragna, Humphrey Hughes, Lee Falco, Bladge De Leo, Zack Jessup, Charles Scarmardi. Honorary Pallbearers will be Phillip Tilotta, Anthony Corte, Louis Emola, and Chris Dragna.

Joseph M. Drohan, Fire Department Veteran, Expires
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
May 31, 1947

District Chief Joseph Malcolm Drohan, 47, a veteran of 27 years with the Houston fire department, died of a heart attack Saturday afternoon in his home at 1524 Columbia.  Saturday was Chief Drohan's day off and he was repairing a set of Venetian blinds in a wood working shop behind his home when stricken. Chief Drohan was a native of Houston and had been with the fire department since March 05, 1920.  He had been district chief at station No. 2 at the foot of Capitol avenue since 1942.

Surviving are his widow Mrs. Marie Drohan, two sons, William A. Drohan and Joseph M. Drohan; his mother, Mrs. Flora Drohan, and foster son, Paul C. Chajkoski, and two foster daughters, Aliba Chajkoski, and Jeanette Cegelski, all of Houston.

The rosary will be recited at 8:30 p.m. Sunday in the family residence and at 10:30 a.m. All Saints Church.

Rev. F. F. O'Sullivan will officiate.  Burial will be in Holy Cross cemetery.  The Earthman funeral home is in charge of arrangements.

Funeral Mass for MAURICE J. DUFILHO, JR., 91, of Houston, TX, will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, January 4, 2003 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 8200 Roos, Houston, TX. Most Reverend Bishop Vincent M. Rizzotto and Reverend Joseph Linanni, concelebrating. Interment will follow at Forest Park Lawndale in Houston, Tx. Visitation will be held beginning at 6:00 P.M. with a rosary being held at 7:30 P.M., Friday, January 3, 2003 at Davis-Greenlawn Funeral Home in Rosenberg. Maurice was born February 3, 1911 in Houston, Tx. to Maurice J. Dufilho, Sr. and Bertha Marie Richard Dufilho. He passed away January 1, 2003 in Houston, Tx. He was a member of St. Francis de Sales in Houston. He was a native Houstonian and retired Captain with the Houston Fire Department. He is preceded in death by his parents and 5 sisters. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Frances Luepke Dufilho of Houston, Tx. Children: Maurice J. Dufilho, III of Houston, Tx., Dennis L. Dufilho and wife, Mary, of Houston, Tx., Stephen M. Dufilho and wife, Adele, of San Antonio, Tx., Laurie F. Dufilho Bautista and husband, Bob, of Victoria, Tx. and Gilbert G. Dufilho of Houston, Tx.; 13 Grandchildren; 8 Great Grandchildren; and other relatives. For those wishing, memorial contributions may be made to St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Houston, Tx. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Davis-Greenlawn Funeral Home, 3900 B. F. Terry Blvd. (FM 2218 & Highway 59), Rosenberg, 281-341-8800.

Published in Houston Chronicle on January 3, 2003                                  Listing on Findagrave.com