Obituary of Eileen E. LaGatta

Eileen E. LaGatta, of Blossvale, formerly of Rome passed away Sunday, May 1, 2022. She was born in Wapakoneta, OH, on May 12, 1937, a daughter of LeRoy and Alvina (Detjen) Katter. Eileen attended The Ohio State University and earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1959. On June 19, 1965, she was united in marriage to P. Anthony LaGatta, Jr. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moulton, OH. Tony passed away September 25, 2021. Eileen and Tony originally settled in Columbus, Ohio and eventually moved to Lee Center, NY where they raised their family. She received a Master’s degree in education from SUNY Cortland and resumed her wonderful career as a reading teacher in the Rome City School District at John E. Joy Elementary School, retiring in 2000. Eileen was a member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rome. She was a sports enthusiast spending many hours watching college basketball, football and major league baseball. As a proud alumnus of The Ohio State University, she was a fanatical Buckeye fan, never missing a televised Buckeye game. Eileen is survived by her two children, David (Brenda) LaGatta, of Blossvale, and Elizabeth (Keith) Perry, of Adams; three grandchildren, Kimberly LaGatta (fiancé, Peter Mancarella), Noah Perry, and Jeffrey (Paulina) White; three great-grandchildren, Natalia, Emilia, and Liam White; a sister and brother-in-law, Marian and Rev. Roger Phillips; nieces and nephews including a special niece, Susan Waskey. She was predeceased by a sister, Irene Lindner. The family would like to thank the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department EMTs, the 2E nurses of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Utica, NY, Hospice of Oneida County and the care givers at the Abraham House in Utica, NY. Private graveside services will be held at the convenience of the family at Holy Trinity Cemetery where Eileen will be entombed in the Resurrection Chapel Mausoleum. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Eileen’s memory to the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department, 2875 State RTE 49, Blossvale, NY 13308 or the Abraham House https://www.theabrahamhouse.org/donate/ Arrangements have been entrusted to Nunn and Harper Funeral Home, Inc., 418 N. George St., Rome.