Domenico Milicia Lopez

Domenico (Donnie) Lopez, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend to many, passed away on March 20, 2025. After bravely enduring the journey with Dementia and Alzheimer’s Donnie is resting peacefully in Heaven with those who have preceded him.

Donnie was born August 4, 1952, in Austin, TX. He spent his whole life in the Austin area, attending Catholic school at Holy Cross and St. Ignatius. He also attended Reagan High School before eventually graduating from Holy Cross High School in 1972.

He then worked for his father’s Tile Company until he took over the reins of the company. During this time he met the love of his life, Stella Galvan, and they spent 33 happy years together.

Donnie loved life! He enjoyed spending his time with his family, that he loved very much, BBQing, watching his favorite teams, the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Longhorns of the University of Texas. He loved live music but especially enjoyed listening to music that you could dance to and dance he did. Through Donnie’s boundless kindness and generous spirit, he touched countless lives, leaving an indelible mark of warmth and compassion that uplifted and enriched the hearts of all who crossed his path.

Celebrating Donnie’s life and mourning his passing are his wife, Stella Galvan Lopez; brother, Jesse Lopez; daughters, Sofia and Becky; sons, Abel and Charles; grandchildren, Matthew, Megan, Victoria, Colton, Chance, Sal, KaylaBlue, Angela and Nicole; and brother-in-law, Tom Uko. Donnie is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, who all loved him dearly.

Donnie was preceded in death by his father, Bennie Lopez; mother, Angelina Lopez; maternal grandparents, Domenico and Maria Milicia; paternal grandparents, George and Gabriela Lopez; and sisters, Elizabeth Uko and Virginia Lopez.

Graveside services are to be held 10:30 AM, Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Assumption Cemetery, 3650 S I-35 Frontage Rd., Austin, TX 78704. The Lopez family would like to invite all attendees to arrive thirty minutes before the service to enjoy mariachis and fellowship.

The family would like to thank the Memory Care Unit at Onion Creek Nursing Home & Rehabilitation for the quality-of-care Donnie received.

Speech by Rebecca Baucum

Hello everyone, the family thanks you for coming today.

I’m Donnie’s niece Becky. I recall my mother sharing many sweet memories she had of her as a child and how she loved her family. Especially her big brother Donnie. How they were both on the swim team. Also, when they lived on South 1st they would walk to Sandy’s with their grandmother. She would get them ice cream and plenty other fun times.

I know if I went around the room asking everyone to describe my uncle I would get; #1 He loved his family, music, dancing, life, fast cars and sports. Along with hard worker, contagious smile, he was polite, had manners, you knew you were going to have a good time when anytime he was around.

We were trying to remember if he was an altar boy, we can’t remember but if he was, he was a dam good one.

During High School he played baseball, his performance of “Casey at the bat” was classic. Donnie with that boyish smile and sense of humor had everyone laughing at his facial expressions and his acting. At the Trojan Ball it was announced he was voted “Class Favorite” his freshman year. I’m not surprised

Liked by everybody….He always greeted everyone in a special way. That made you feel happy, he cared, and you just felt great when he talked with you. You ended up smiling…For instance… I remember watching him come into the house immediately finding Grandma to give her kiss on each cheek and saying, “Your My girl”. I knew he was around when I heard “Hey Girl”, Another one he used to say is “Hey Darling”. Maybe that’s why Danny Hodges gave him the nick name “Dark Gable”?

He had a love for music, classic rock, country, blues and loved to dance. As well as going to concerts his nephew still remember him taking him to his 1st concert the kinks. We would go outside to the pavilion and play his favorites. In the last 6 months one of the nurses stopped me to tell me when Uncle Donnie heard a song he got up and started dancing. I said that is my uncle.

He was a hard worker. A master craftsman in tile industry. He worked for his father until he took over the family business . Throughout 50 plus years you could see work done all over the Austin area, from many business-like downtown Austin National Bank on outside of the bldg. to inside a lot of your homes.

Grandma always knew where to find him when he got off work along with everyone else, they knew he was at ….Bullies. That’s where he meet the love of life Aunt Stella.

He didn’t shy away from having a good time. In which he could make other people laugh, in that moment. For instance, Bobby St. Piere and him were dared to streak through the whole store at 7-11…and they did while his brother, Patty & Julie were in car laughing.

He was proud of his role as father and grandfather, he did it with dedication, enthusiasm and love.

He enjoyed watching his grandkids being in band and football. Taking family trips. Along with keeping family tradition his grandma did with him, going to Sandy’s for ice cream.

Everyone knew not to call if his Cowboys or longhorns were playing.

Again, the family wants to thank you for coming today. Cemetery services will be at a later date.

We know each of you have many more great memories and the family ask please go to his obituary. You can leave it there in the add a memory section along with any photos you wish to share. Due to time limitations, we are not having anyone else come up to speak.