Billy anniversary is celebrated with series of events

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Deacon and Mrs. Donald Billy

YOUNGSTOWN — Deacon Donald and Jean Billy of Youngstown have been honored at a series of events celebrating the 50th anniversary of their June 20, 1959, wedding at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church .

On June 14 their anniversary was acknowledged by The Rev. Steve Zarichny after the 10 a.m. Divine Liturgy at the church. The couple were honored afterward during a social in the church hall, and later that day they renewed their vows during an anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop George V. Murry at St. Columba Cathedral.

Invited guests joined the couple for an anniversary dinner at their home on June 20, and an anniversary party was given for them on June 27 by their children and their spouses, Dr. Mark and Michelle Billy of Canfield; Christine Bustamante, Colleen and Pasquale Spallino, Claudia and Michael Naples, Carrie Yocom, and Michael and Heather Billy, all of Powell; and Cathy Armstrong of Springboro.

The festivity took place at the Canfield home of Dr. Mark and Michelle Billy, who were observing their 25th wedding anniversary.

The couple’s grandchildren are Zachary Billy, Mathias Bustamante, Alexa Billy, Elena Billy, Adam Armstrong, Colette Naples, Olivia Armstrong, Cara Naples, Emiliana Armstrong, Kendra Yocom, Gina Yocom, Peter Spallino, Chelsea Naples, Ava Billy, Giovanna Spallino, Larissa Spallino and Deacon Matthew Billy.

A son, Matthew, died in 1968 when he was 5.

Mrs. Billy attended Youngstown College and was secretary at Stambaugh Elementary School and then at Mahoning County Welfare Department until December 1960. She was the secretary at St. Anne School for 27 years before retiring in 2005 when the school closed.

Mr. Billy was ordained a deacon 14 years ago at St. Anne Church and serves as deacon at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church. He served with the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957. He graduated from Youngstown State University and earned a master’s degree at Westminster College. He taught at Princeton Junior High School and worked a Loblaws before going into business with his brother-in-law, Ron Tofil, as Ron-Don Construction. He retired from the business in 1999 and is now the practice manager at Mill Creek Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.