Melissa "Missy" Dianne (Sonnenlitter) Ginnetti
January 17, 1973 — May 10, 2016
"Missy" Melissa Dianne Ginnetti passed away peacefully early Tuesday morning, May 10, 2016 at the Cleveland Clinic surrounded by her family and friends after a 6-year battle with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She had undergone two (2) stem cell transplants over the course of the 6-year battle. She always had a smile her face and never let the illness slow her down or keep from doing what she wanted to. She was a "Hero" to the many people she touched and kept her positive attitude all the way to the end.
Missy was born on January 17, 1973 in Youngstown, the daughter of Donna Sonnenlitter. She was a 1991 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School. She attended Youngstown State University.
Missy was employed at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown as a food service coordinator before becoming a corrections officer. Once her illness prohibited her from working, she began to bake, knit and work on arts and crafts. She enjoyed playing mixed doubles bocce, going to flea markets, craft shows and loved antique furniture. Missy was a huge Ohio State Buckeyes fan, especially Joey Bosa and Urban Meyer.
Missy leaves behind to cherish her memory, her husband Pat whom she married on May 5, 2007, her son Frank and daughter Laiken and step-daughter Alexa. She was the most dedicated and proud mother to her children, attending all of their sporting events, concerts and award ceremonies.
Missy became a strong supporter of the "Be the Match Foundation," which found and matched her with an unrelated stem cell donor after her illness came back in 2013. She also created her own Be the Match Team, "Team Missy". She was able to meet her donor, now 21 year-old Daniel Cox of Indiana, in the summer of 2015. Daniel became family before she knew who he was. The two would exchange letters but were not permitted to give any personal information until 1 year after the transplant. Daniel will forever be a part of Missy’s family.
Special thanks goes out to Marsha, her caregiver, during her transplant. Marsha stayed with Missy every day for four (4) months while in Cleveland. Also, the Cleveland Clinic doctors and staff, especially Dr. Liu, Christina Ferraro, Dr. Jagadeesh, Dr. Hamilton, the Apheresis Team and the numerous nurses that cared for Missy and treated her like a best friend and family.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, 10:00 AM at Christ Our Savior Parish at St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church in Struthers with Fr. Bernard Bonnot officiating.
Friends and family may call Friday from 3-7 PM at the Church.
Arrangements are being handled by the Davidson-Becker Funeral Home in Struthers.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Be the Match Foundation "Matches for Missy" at