Donald L. Murcko

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CANFIELD - Donald L. Murcko, 55, departed from this life on Thursday afternoon, July 10, 2008, after a courageous 15-year battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

At the time, he was a patient at St. Elizabeth Health Center. Don was loved and admired by so many people. Throughout his battle with cancer, Don never gave up. He was always cheerful, optimistic, and possessed a lot of faith and hope.

He was a devoted and loving father to his precious daughter, Diana, and a wonderful, loving husband and best friend to his wife, Marilyn. There was nothing better in the whole world than when the three of them were together.

Don loved to garden, took the best home videos, cherished the time he spent with his wife and daughter, especially on vacations and day trips, and loved his work as an architect. Diana will always remember how her Daddy loved to play basketball with her, read the comics to her, and build things for her.

Don was born Jan. 24, 1953, in Warren to Joseph and Sophie Hidukawich Murcko. He attended St. Mary's and Warren G. Harding High School and graduated from Kent State University in 1977 with a Bachelor of Architecture Degree.

He was a licensed architect and previously worked at MS Consultants Architect Firm, Ricciuti, Balog, and Partners and at Architectural Design Inc. in Boardman since January 2007. Don was a member of the AIA Eastern Ohio Chapter. He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Austintown.

Don's love and memory will be forever cherished by his wife, Marilyn (Infante) whom he married on Oct. 3, 1998, and his eight-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Diana. Don is also survived by his mother-in-law, Maline Infante of Austintown; his brothers, Ronald Murcko of Canton, Gary (Sally) Murcko of Champion and Dennis (Laura) Murcko of California; and his sisters, Gloria (Paul) Vicen of Springboro, Cheryl (Tim Freshley) Murcko of Randolph and Marsha (Pete) Davis of Tennessee. He also leaves behind his brothers-in-law; Dominic (Sandy) Infante of Alliance, Joseph Infante, Jr. of Cleveland, James (Terry) Infante of North Jackson and Ronald (Luann) Infante of Canfield; a sister-in-law, Ann "Dolly" (Andy) Vonorick of Austintown; and many special nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Rossi Brothers & Lellio Funeral Home, 4442 South Ave., Boardman. Funeral services will be 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 15 at the funeral home followed by a 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph Church in Austintown.

Burial will take place at Green Haven Memorial Gardens in Canfield.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Antoine Chahine and his staff, the many doctors and nurses who cared for Don this year at St. Elizabeth Health Center, and all of the many family members and friends who constantly prayed for Don.

(special notice)