Dorena May Castellani

Dorena Fata Castellani, 102, Mother, Grandmother, Great- Grandmother, passed away on July 4, 2026, of natural causes. Dorena was born on November 18, 1923, to Paul and Mary Fata, the eldest of 8 children.

Dorena graduated from St. Mary’s Cathedral High School in 1941. She was raised in downtown Lansing, working with her family at her family’s imported food store, where the customers were family and family friends. Family was the center of her life with siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles together always and celebrating their Italian traditions. She took pride in her Italian heritage and reminisced often of her trips to Italy back to their ancestral village of St. Ippolito. She never missed the Festival of St. Ippolito which is celebrated every August. This includes last year at the age of 101, when she was in attendance. Most recently, Dorena lived at The Red Cedar Lodge in East Lansing, where she was a highly favored friend of many.

In 1946 she met Art Castellani at an Italian American dance. They were married on February 1st,1947 and were married for 67 years until his death in 2015. Dorena spent many years as a homemaker, raising her 4 children then later worked for Macy’s as a devoted employee for 17 years.

Dorena was preceded in death by her husband Arthur Castellani, son Edward Castellani, parents Paul and Mary Fata, siblings Ernest Fata, Gloria Spagnuolo, Frank Fata, and Margaret Fetyko. She is survived by 3 children, William Castellani, Mark Castellani (Lisa Hildorf) and Jeannie ( William Mothersell), Daughter-in-law Robin Castellani, 7 grandchildren Michael Castellani, Natalie Ralph (Connor), Carson Castellani, Robert Mothersell (Ashley) Henry Castellani, Christopher Castellani, Angela Mothersell and great- grandchild, David Ralph.

She is also survived by her siblings Eleanor Dionise, Lawrence (Barbara) Fata and Joanne Bernest, sister-in-law, Teresa Fata, brother-in-law, David Fetyko.

Visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00 pm Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at Gorsline-Runciman Tiffany Chapel, 3232 W Saginaw Lansing, Michigan. The Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:30 pm Thursday, July 9, 2026, at St Gerard Church, 4437 W. Willow, Lansing, Michigan with visitation from 12:30 pm until the time of Mass. The Rite of Committal will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Dorena's grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions are suggested to St. Gerard Church https://stgerard.org or Mother Teresa House http://motherteresahouse.org