Donald Joseph DiLosa

1946 - 2021

Donald Joseph "Don" DiLosa died peacefully, with his children and brother by his side, on Friday, September 10, 2021, at Ochsner Hospital in Kenner, Louisiana. He was 74 years old. Despite being fully vaccinated, his death was caused by Covid-19. Tragically, it should have been Don's wedding weekend to his fiancée, Debbie Zeringue, as well as the first time he would meet his only grandchild, four-month old Nina Cox of New York City. Don was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 11, 1946. He attended grade school at St. Dominic, followed by St. Aloysius High School. Don was the first in his family to attend college and graduated from Louisiana State University (LSU) in 1969. He was a member of Lambda Chi Fraternity and received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Don enjoyed a career as a Human Resources manager for 35 years, primarily in the oil and gas industry, in New Orleans, in Dallas and Midland, Texas, and in the Chicago area. He worked nearly half of his career for Mobil Oil and, after it was acquired, for ExxonMobil. He used to joke every time he passed a Mobil gas station that it was "his office." In the latter part of his career, he also worked at Orion Refining and he retired from Valero Energy. Don proudly served as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States of America. He enlisted into the U.S. Army, earning his hard stripes as a Sergeant. After attending Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning in Georgia, he became a Commissioned Officer of the Louisiana National Guard in 1970. He was honorably discharged in 1985 as a Captain. Don most enjoyed the quotidian parts of life. He was a die-hard LSU fan and for many years had season tickets to Tiger Stadium where he relished taking his children to football games, tailgating, and seeing the "Golden Band from Tigerland." He enjoyed gambling as entertainment and fellowship, especially playing poker, which he did every week for over 50 years. Honoring one of the finest of New Orleans traditions, Don also loved to eat and to eat out with family and friends. His favorites included oysters on the half shell, red beans and rice on Mondays, and filet mignon at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse for special occasions. Don was an optimist by nature; he loved telling jokes; and he made life-long friends in his fraternity, during his military service, around the poker table, and while working at Mobil Oil. He enjoyed more happy days than sad, more healthy days than sick, and he finished with more money than he started-and thus he counted his as a good life. Above all, Don cherished being a father, was beyond elated to become a grandfather, and died having finally found love again after being single for more than 30 years. Don was preceded in death by his parents, Estelle Claire Simon and Joseph Vincent DiLosa, as well as his sister, Deborah Ann DiLosa Burger. He is survived by his fiancée, Debbie Roussel Zeringue; daughter, Jill Amann DiLosa (William Campbell Cox, III); son, Scott Joseph DiLosa (Melissa); the mother of his children, JoAnn Amann Mocklin; his brother, Douglas Alan DiLosa (Mae); his granddaughter, Herminie Estelle "Nina" Cox; as well as several nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be held at 12:30 PM on Friday, October 15, 2021, at Lake Lawn Park Mausoleum, 5454 Pontchartrain Blvd, New Orleans, LA, followed by a private reception. An online guestbook is available at www.LeitzEaganFuneralHome.com.