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Mario DiPisa

August 18, 1966 - September 19, 2022
Mattawan, MI

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Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

American Heart Association / American Stroke Association Memorial or Tribute Donation
PO Box 840692
Dallas, TX 75284-0692
(800) 242-8721
Web Site

American Cancer Society
P.O. Box 22478
Oklahoma City, OK 73123
(800) 227-2345
Web Site

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ambati
1830 S. Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(269) 349-4961
Driving Directions
Web Site

Taylor's Florist and Gifts
215 E. Michigan Ave.
Paw Paw, MI 49079
(269) 657-6256
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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When reflecting on the life of Mario DiPisa, it is easy to see both his unwavering strength and his unconditional love for his family. He was dedicated to caring for his loved ones, and nothing brought him greater joy than spending time with his friends and family. Mario was well known for his sense of humor and his love of laughter, and his zest for life was contagious to all who were near. His overflowing heart of service allowed him to touch the lives of countless others in such a special way in ways both great and small. Dearly loved, Mario will be forever missed by those who knew him best.

It seems only fitting that Mario’s journey began during a time that was as vibrant as he was. It was the 1960s when we elected the young John F. Kennedy as our 35th President and we were successful in sending astronauts to the moon. Anthony John and Mary Marie (Lo Bosco) DiPisa were blessed when Mario drew his first breath on August 18th, 1966 and became part of their family.

Growing up, Mario was a typical young man of his generation in many ways. He was raised in the family home as the youngest of six children. Mario’s mother, Mary, gave birth to Mario at the age of 43, making him a complete but wonderful surprise. He grew up alongside his siblings, Jack, Jennie, Ross, Antionette, and Tony, and life was never boring in their home. By the time he was only 11 months old, Mario had already learned to recite the Lord’s Prayer clearly. At the age of two, he managed to call his father, who was working in Chicago, on the extension phone in his parents’ bedroom. Mario’s mother only found out when she started to receive the phone bills!

All who knew Mario can surely agree that, of all the things he loved in life, he treasured his loved ones above all else. He was overjoyed to marry his best friend, Troy Jones, on February 5, 2014. Mario and Troy were endlessly blessed to spend 17 wonderful years together. They enjoyed traveling together, both stateside and abroad. Mario’s family grew to include his mother and father-in-law, Sally and Don Jones, and his sisters-in-law, Kim Beebe and Stacy Maher. He was also thrilled to become an uncle to many nieces and nephews. Mario also enjoyed being a dad to his three gray cats, Duct Tape, Shadow, and Earl Gray. He loved having regular contacts with his loved ones including his morning Facetime calls with his sisters, Jennie and Antoinette, greeting them with “Good morning, sunshine!” Mario was also a great friend to those who were close to him. He truly considered himself blessed to be surrounded by so many loved ones.

Mario enjoyed his career with Ensemble Health Partners. He worked as a Senior Director of Centralized Operation Excellence. Mario was well known for his problem solving capability that involved him in collaborating with almost every facet of the operation. He was devoted to all that he did and always did his job to the best of his ability, not stopping until the work was finished. Mario was very intelligent in both his personal and professional life. He was a very logical decision maker, throughout his entire life, and he was therefore very valuable to his employers and built a strong career for himself.

Throughout his entire life, Mario was a very involved member of his community and clubs. He was active in many local organizations, including the Paw Paw Elks Lodge, where he served as treasurer for many years. Mario was also stage manager for several performances at the Civic Theatre. He genuinely loved investing in his community and enriching the lives of those around him.

Never one to sit still for long, Mario pursued many hobbies to stay busy in his free time. He loved to travel and explore, especially alongside his husband, Troy. Mario could often be found in the kitchen, cooking meals and hosting gatherings for family and friends. He was recognizable by his infectious laugh, and he liked to play pranks and cause mischief every now and then. Mario loved being social, but he also enjoyed quiet time at home with Troy and their cats. He was always happiest when those around him were having fun as well.

Mario dedicated his life to creating stories for everyone else to enjoy and enriching their own lives simply by being part of their story. Whether taking Troy to every Dicks Last Resort restaurant in the U.S. because he knew Troy liked them, or making sure they had Halloween for everyone each year in his neighborhood complete with endless candy for the kids and syringe shots for the adults, his selfless acts of service defined him. His attention to others came as natural as anything to him. First in line to assist in any way he could, he even helped his sister when she was short-handed at her restaurant, and he never accepted “no” as an answer. Mario loved life, but he loved everyone else even more.

As his family and friends can surely attest, Mario truly understood the secret to a life well lived. He was a constant source of strength and encouragement for others, even in the most difficult of times. Mario’s primary focus in life was fostering deep and personal relationships with those around him. He was never afraid to stand up and speak his mind, but always willing to go above and beyond to help others. Though he will be deeply missed, Mario leaves behind a priceless legacy that his loved ones will be proud to carry on in his footsteps.

Mario DiPisa, of Mattawan, at age 56, passed away early Monday morning September 19, 2022. On February 5, 2014, he married Troy Jones, his best friend and partner of 17 years, who survives him. In addition, Mario is survived by his siblings: Jack (Kathy) DiPisa of Traverse City, Jennie Crossman of Stevensville, Ross DiPisa of Watervliet, Antoinette (David) Bammann of St Joseph, and Tony (Robin) DiPisa of Vicksburg; mother and father-in-law: Sally and Don Jones of Comstock; sisters-in-law: Kim (Ronnie) Beebe, and Stacy (Travis) Maher; many nieces and nephews; and countless friends, including his beloved gray cats, Duct Tape, Shadow, and Earl Gray.

As a family, we would like to express our sincerest gratitude for your thoughts and prayers through these last few weeks while Mario was hospitalized. Your support and well wishes have been invaluable to us, and have meant a lot! We understand Mario and the family have an immense group of friends and colleagues that may want to show their support. If you are moved to do so, please consider a small donation to either the American Heart Association or American Cancer Society. Also visit Mario’s webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com to archive favorite memories, photos, and sign his guestbook. Lastly, again we want to thank you for all your kind words, prayers, and well wishes. We appreciate your grace as we navigate this very difficult time and hope you understand our decision for minimizing the gathering.

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