Vanessa L. DiSanto

Vanessa L. (Fear) DiSanto Eaton Rapids Vanessa Loretta (Fear) DiSanto died March 4, 2012 at Maplewood AFC in Eaton Rapids, MI. She was 95 years of age. Vanessa was born on November 6, 1916 in De Lancey, PA, to Elia and Paula Castranova, one of their ten children. She married Frank Fear of Punxsutawney, PA, and the coupled settled in Syracuse, NY, where Frank worked for the U.S. Veterans Administration. Following Frank's unexpected death in 1957, Vanessa relocated in Batavia, NY, where she lived for nearly 50 years. She was a parishioner of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Parish and an employee of the former Marine Midland Bank (Batavia office), where she was well known to customers for her engaging personality and investment knowledge. Later in life, Vanessa married Nicholas (Nick) DiSanto of Batavia, NY. Vanessa remained in Batavia for a period of time following Nick's death before relocating in 2001 to the Lansing area to be closer to immediate family. Vanessa is survived by her son, Frank (Kathy) Fear of Owosso, MI and Cape Coral, FL, and grandson, Frank (Janae) Fear of Owosso, MI, and their children, Avery, Eli, and Vivia. She is also survived by two brothers: John (late Nina) Castronova of Batavia, NY, and Dr. Daniel (Pat) Castronova of Sherman Oaks, CA. Vanessa was preceded in death by her parents, by her husbands, by her brothers, Peter and Eli, and by her sisters, Frances, Mary Angela, Margaret, Immaculata, and Lillian. Well organized and systematic in approach, Vanessa was a self-taught woman. She became an investment consultant to family and friends, giving them advice they valued and used. Vanessa also had a knack for interior design, gardening, and antiques, becoming well known for designing appealing home-scapes. The crown jewel of her work was a lovely, single-family home she purchased and decorated in the 1960s. A classy, sociable, and highly intelligent woman, Vanessa will be best remembered as a person who was devoted to family-with son, Frank, being the focus of her life. He will be forever thankful for his mother's unwavering love and devotion, particularly for the relentlessly tough-minded approach she took to his upbringing. In these days following Vanessa's passing, the Fear family would like to acknowledge the outstanding care Vanessa received from Betty Breakey and her staff at Maplewood AFC in Eaton Rapids. They became Vanessa's second family, and cared for her as such. We also thank our friend and Vanessa's physician, Dr. Tom Kelly, for his attentive medical care; and we acknowledge the staff at Sparrow Hospice Services for the gentle and comforting approach they took in Vanessa's last weeks and days. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Gorsline-Runciman Funeral Homes. No local service is planned. A remembrance of Vanessa's life will take place at a later date in Batavia, NY.