Donna Bryson Gulino

Donna Marie Bryson Gulino, of Mount Vernon, Virginia, 80, died July 15 with her family at her side following an auto accident close to her home. She was the beloved wife of Denny Gulino for 59 years and devoted mother of Christopher, Matthew, Drew, Angelina Gulino Powers, Alexander, Alyssa Gulino Pinell, Virginia "Gia" Gulino Talentino, Thomas, Daniel, and baby K.C. Gulino Smith, and was closely involved in every aspect of their lives as they grew older with families of their own and as grandmother to her 16 grandchildren.

Foremost, she was a woman of great faith and prayer, wearing out rosaries as she prayed for everyone in her life day and night, with a fervent devotion to Mother Mary. She had no fear of death, knew and accepted it long before the rest of the family knew what was to happen.

She was also a woman of courage, firmly turning down the advice of doctors that she was jeopardizing her health during pregnancies. Three Cesareans were to follow.

She was profoundly grateful for the advent of RhoGAM, without which there would have been only one child.

One of nine siblings, she specially revered her mother Rose Bryson who sacrificed over a lifetime for her children in the small enclave community of Mt. Adams in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Rose remained a much admired shining light throughout Donna's life. Her father, Bob Bryson, was a rock of support for her family.

Donna was an enthusiastic volunteer for decades for activities through Good Shepherd Church, including serving on the Christ House food program and funeral committee and she also produced the weekly church bulletin for many years. She was organizer for the Cub Scout Blue & Gold dinner as well as Boy Scout and Girl Scout events.

Donna was selfless, genuine and loving, able to instantly bond with strangers whom she was delighted to meet, a non-judgmental and supportive presence to everyone around her. She also was a stickler for tradition, filling Easter baskets for the extended family through the night, never missing the St. Nick stockings, a birthday cake for every birthday. From Cincinnati to Chicago to New York, the family finally moved to Virginia in 1977.

Donna maintained near celebrity status at Mt. Vernon High School, where 8 of 10 children attended, and for which she was PTA president and delivered the commencement address for daughter KC's graduation. The community knew her as someone who was always cheering at endless, overlapping softball, baseball, lacrosse and soccer games, and supporting Mount Vernon High's marching band, orchestra, and musical performances as she ferried the many Gulino children to and from, day after day.

And she was an extremely knowledgeable sports fan otherwise, able to provide her own color commentary as she followed the Nats, the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals and other teams on TV.

Her treasured memories include her years at the Passionists' Holy Cross primary school, where she was a spelling champ, tiny Immaculata high school with its nuns, the iconic Immaculata Church high above Cincinnati where she and Denny were married and her years working at Good Samaritan Hospital, in Cincinnati. She also was editor of a community newspaper in Brooklyn which she and her husband owned and worked at Mount Vernon Plantation, helping license its precious artifacts. Among the family's treasured memories is the sound of her wonderful singing voice, heard at Mass and around the house.

Her brothers and sisters include surviving sister Constance Hollander and younger brother Michael Bryson. The worst day of her life was when her best friend and younger sister Kate passed away after heart surgery. Today and every day we celebrate her marvelous life, her unstinting love, her closeness to her family and how she dearly loved babies.

(The livestream of Monday's funeral will be at: https://youtube.com/live/9IY3YgP30MU?feature=share)

In lieu of flowers, you can visit donateuc.org and donate online and mark the gift “In memory of Donna Gulino”.

To learn more and find instructions to give by other methods you can visit https://.www.unitedcommunity.org/ways-to-give/. The address for the non-profit is 7511 Fordson Road, Alexandria, VA 22306.

Thanks for all your love and support!

Hotel stay accommodations:

Dates of Stay: July 28-30, 2024

Booking Code/Group Code: RDG

Hampton Inn and Suites Fort Belvoir Alexandria Hotel South

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