Domenico A. Migneco

1923 - 2021

Domenico (Dominick) Antonio Migneco, 97, of Lake Waccamaw, NC passed away on Monday, May 10, 2021. He is preceded in death by his faithful and caring wife, Anne-Lise Hansen Migneco; brothers Frank and wife Mary Rose Atwater, John and wife Ann Lorham, Vincent (Jim) and wife Nettie Bass, Marcello (Tom), Jeremiah (Jerry), Emmanuel, Carmelo, and Frank I; sisters Josephine (Jo) Garbarini and husband Alfred, Angelina Matz and husband Louis, Maria Ciocola (Mary) and husband Michael, Carmela (Millie) Migneco, and Antoinette Migneco; nieces Susan (Susie) Marion, Frances Migneco; dear friends Irving Siminoff, Henry (Hank) Orenstein 100th ID, Sica 100th ID, Klein 100th ID; Penoff 78th ID, and his Band of Fallen Brothers of the 100th Infantry Division 398th I Company WWII. He is survived by his son, Vincent James (Jim) Migneco of New Haven, CT; daughters Noel M. Purdy and husband Chris of Charlottesville, VA, and Nina Migneco Koster and husband Ron of Lake Waccamaw, NC; grandson Jeremiah Tolley and wife Marianne of Barboursville, VA; great grandchildren Boone and Mia Tolley; nieces Patricia (Tish) Migneco-Rhoat of Wakefield, RI; Marie Barry and husband Tom of Brick, NJ; Elizabeth (Liz) Migneco Varga and husband Dusty of Cranford, NJ; Laura Migneco-Frentzco and husband Brian of St. Augustine, FL; Linda Friedman and husband Michael of Sunrise, FL; Mariann J. Migneco of Sugarloaf, PA; nephews Frank A. Migneco and wife Linda Goldin of Scranton, PA; John Migneco and wife Deborah Ventz of Kure Beach, NC; Joe Migneco of Wesley Chapel, FL; Ronald A. Garbarini II of Port Charlotte, FL; Leonard E. Matz of Ocala, FL, and numerous great nieces and nephews. Domenico was born in New York City in 1923. He was the direct antecedent of Sicilian parents who immigrated to Ellis Island; Vincenzo first in 1911 and Gaetana, and son Jim, followed in 1913. He was raised in the Lower East Side of Manhattan where his father owned a shop but struggled due to the marginalization of Sicilian immigrants and The Depression that followed the stock market crash of 1929. In 1943, Domenico joined the U.S. Army and served in the European Theater of Operations of Patton’s 7th Army in WWII which would take him through the Vosges Mountains of France, breaching the Maginot Line, into the southern flank of the Battle of the Bulge where the 100th ID held the line, and ending in Operation Norwind, the last German offensive. The highlight of his experiences in Europe was the discovery of the 44th Infantry Division being in the same area as the 100th. Domenico asked his Division CO for permission to meet with his brother Frank (Yugi) in Hochkirchen, Germany where they took a picture together in front of a farmhouse his unit was occupying. Upon honorable discharge in 1946, Domenico would return to the states and join the Merchant Marines where he would train as a mechanical engineer sailing the Pacific. Upon honorable discharge, he would travel back to his beloved Paris, Nice, and Barcelona where he would attend school Ecole Pratique De Langue Française, Centre Universitaire Méditerranéen, and Berlitz Idiomas, respectively. While continuing his travels, he would meet his future wife where she worked as an Interrogator at the American Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark. Domenico had to kneel before the King of Denmark to ask permission to marry Anne-Lise. They were wed June 23, 1953 in Belose Church outside of Ringsted, Denmark. They would proceed to have three children and live in Bolton, CT, Bedford, VA, and Amherst, VA where Anne-Lise courageously fought Pancreatic Cancer and passed away on October 14, 2010. Domenico will be remembered as patient, good-humored, inquisitive, intelligent, kind, and considerate. He loved his wife Anne-Lise and so honored her Danish lineage and her intellect. Domenico rarely said “I love you� but he would show you in other ways. He was so proud of his children loving each of them in his own special way. He was grateful for the VA Medical Center in Salem, VA, Lynchburg, VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). More recently, we are indebted to the VA Wilmington Hospital Care Center (WHCC) Primary Care Team, Dr. Albert Britton III, MD, and all the clinics that professionally and courteously served Domenico’s health. Further, we wish to thank Columbus Regional Healthcare System, Whiteville, NC, his primary physician. Andrew J. Hutchinson, DO PA, Dr. Fink and his team, all the ER/Triage staff, Lake Waccamaw, NC Rescue, all Nurses, Housekeeping, and Food Service. In addition, we wish to thank New Hanover Regional Medical Center Doctors, Surgeons, all the Nursing staff, Housekeeping, Food Service, Palliative Care, Analynn, PA; Deborah Floyd, RN; and Deborah Ventz-Migneco, MODL. Finally, we wish to thank the caring staff of Lower Cape Fear Life Care Hospice where Domenico would spend his last two days in peace and comfort. He passed with dignity and grace due to his warm, compassionate, and professional Nurses-- Mari, RN; Katherine (Kitty Cat), CNA. Domenico will further be remembered as a humble man who never bragged about the war or any of his accomplishments. He loved our country and our flag but saw the futility of war and lost many friends in battle. Upon discharge, his disillusionment caused him to toss his uniform and medals into the Hudson River near Manhattan. He would suffer many years of quiet desperation and nightmares, what we now know as PTSD. A few weeks prior to his passing, he had another one of those nightmares---they never left him. He is finally free. The family will hold a private ceremony where Domenico’s ashes will be interred locally in Wilmington, NC. He had a special affection for all animals, especially cats--Alley Cat Allies, and the children of St. Jude’s Research Hospital. Donations may be made to one of these organizations or any charity of choice in his memory. © Nina Migneco Koster