Dorothy (“Dot”) Marie Ziganti, 98, of Parma Heights, Ohio, passed away on Saturday, February 21st, 2026. Dorothy was born in Paterson, New Jersey on January 2, 1928 to Emil Barton and Anna Barton (nee Lamsfuss).
Dorothy grew up in Paterson and graduated from Eastside High School in 1945 (described fondly in her senior yearbook as “effervescent” and “well dressed”). The youngest of three daughters, her spirit exceeded her size: the most petite cheerleader on her team, she was the one tossed into the air to rally the crowds.
An accomplished seamstress, she learned to sew at age 13 to make a roller skating outfit, and spent decades into her 80s crafting clothing, costumes, hats, and more for her home and her family. In her 90s, she traded sewing for art making, producing beautiful watercolors and drawings as long as her hands would allow her.
Of all her titles—cherished wife, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother—Dorothy’s role as a nurse carried across her seasons of life. The handful of years she spent in nurse training and then nursing practice, including at City Hospital and American Greetings in Cleveland, had lifelong impact. All who knew Dorothy, from the family members she nursed through illnesses, to the medical staff she met in doctors’ offices, knew they were in the presence of a devoted and proficient nurse.
In addition to her artistic pursuits, Dorothy enjoyed spending time with her family, including her ambitious travels across the U.S. and around the world with her husband of 56 years, Joseph Ziganti, Jr. Of all their trips, the most memorable was taking their entire family of children and grandchildren for a vacation to Disney World and on the Disney Cruise.
Dorothy was the maternal anchor and caretaker of her family and will be dearly missed.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her two sisters, and her beloved husband. She is survived by children Bonnie Ziganti (Steve), Denise Ziganti (John), and Barton Ziganti (Mary Jane); grandchildren Dana (Andrew), Cara, (Lucas), Chelsea, Ryan (Kristen), Bri (Justin), Barton, Aemilee (Jacob), and Josie; and great grandchildren Roux, Ellie, and Oaklen.
Visitation will be held at Corrigan Craciun Funeral Home, located at 20820 Lorain Road, Fairview Park, Ohio, 44126, on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Thursday at 10AM at St. Bridget of Kildare Parish, 5620 Hauserman Road, Parma, Ohio, 44130. (PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH)
Interment will follow at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, 10175 Rawiga Road, Seville, Ohio, 44273, at 12:15PM.
A truly talented artist, her drawings can be viewed on her Instagram page: @dottiesdrawings
https://www.instagram.com/dottiesdrawings?
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to The Cleveland Orchestra, Severance Music Center, 11001 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106https://www.clevelandorchestra.com/give/donor-benefits
