Dorothy Dena (nee DeChiara) Pedersen, passed away on February 11, 2018. Dena was born in Canton, Ohio on January 21, 1928 to the late Lucy (Rex) and Anthony DeChiara. She was baptized, received first Holy Communion, confirmed, sang in the choir and was married (in 1954) at St. Anthony Catholic Parish. She attended St. Anthony's grade school and McKinley High School. She worked in the deli at Carm's for several years and in the produce department at A&D Foodarama for 14 years. She was an avid bowler and enjoyed tending to her flowers and vegetable garden every year. She was a member of St. Anthony/All Saints Catholic Parish, the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW Post 3747, AARP and the former Danish Brotherhood Lodge #225. She was a loyal DAV supporter. Dena loved volunteering at St. Joseph's Care Center (1989-2004) and St. John's Samaritan's Table (2000-2012). Preceded in death by her parents, a lovely daughter Karen Marie Pedersen, four brothers; Donald (killed in Italy during World War II), John, Harold and Richard DeChiara; sister-in-law Delores and brother-in-law Mike Labriola; brother-in-law Richard and sister-in-law Jean Pedersen. Survived by husband Robert Pedersen, daughter Kathryn and son-in-law Mark Nodo of Columbus, OH; two granddaughters, Jamie and Jonathan Mallory of Pickerington, OH and Abby and Kevin Surbella of Worthington, OH; six great-grandchildren, Ethan, Connor and Ella Mallory, Reed, Arden and Mae Surbella; one brother Ralph DeChiara and one sister-in-law Monique DeChiara all of Canton; many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and a great-great niece and a great-great nephew. Family and friends will be received at the Rossi Family Funeral Home on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Anthony/All Saints Catholic Parish on Friday at 10 a.m., with Rev. Fr. Tom Kraszewski as celebrant. Interment will follow in Forest Hill Cemetery, where she will be buried beside her daughter, Karen.

Rossi (330)492-5830

www.rossifuneralhomeinc.com