Obituary for Dana Patrice Loria
In Memory of Dana Patrice Loria
August 24, 1958 – February 25, 2026
Dana Patrice Loria was born on August 24, 1958, in Newton, Massachusetts, and passed away on February 25, 2026, in Maple Plain, Minnesota.
Before she was born, Dana suffered birth defects caused by a medication that had been prescribed to our mother—one that at the time was believed to be safe but was later linked to birth defects. This left Dana with cognitive challenges that were further compounded by a childhood diagnosis of epilepsy and the medications she took daily to manage it.
Dana was the first child of our parents and the first grandchild of her maternal grandparents, Joseph and Eva Novitski. She was a happy older sister who loved music and was always thoughtful and kind. She had a wonderful collection of records—both 45s and LPs—and loved listening to them, singing, and dancing in her room.
During those early years, my father’s brother John Loria and his family lived nearby on Bernard Street in Watertown. Our families spent a great deal of time together, and Dana especially loved being with her cousin Elisa Loria.
Growing up, we enjoyed many vacations to Cape Cod with our maternal grandparents Joe and Eva Novitski. Dana treasured the time spent with family there, especially when visiting her aunt Barbara Phenix, her husband Dick Phenix, and their sons Bob and Steven, who summered nearby. She particularly loved the small beach at the end of Fifth Avenue in West Hyannisport, Massachusetts, near the Phenix summer home.
Dana loved animals, most notably her dog “Tipper” and her cat “Blue.” She showered them with love and took wonderful care of them.
Dana graduated from Belmont High School in 1977 and later attended Mount Ida Junior College, where she earned an associate’s degree in Independent Studies in 1980. She later worked at Filene’s in Belmont Center and at Target in Watertown.
Dana had great taste in movies and loved fun action films. My son Nate and I always enjoyed watching them with her. She especially loved movies starring Tom Cruise, particularly the Mission: Impossible films—as well as Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick. Ryan Reynolds was another favorite actor. In fact, her room in assisted living featured two large poster-sized canvas prints: one of Ryan Reynolds and one of Tom Cruise.
In the spring of 2020, Dana and our mother Joan moved in with me in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where I became their primary caregiver while I was living and working there. They both loved having my two dogs to keep them company while I was at work. Dana was especially fond of my Dutch Shepherd, Zeus, who loved her right back.
During that time, they also became friends with my friends John and Mary Hahn, and we shared many dinners, birthday celebrations, and trips to local restaurants together.
Eventually, both Dana’s and Joan’s health declined, and they needed more care than I could provide at home. They moved into assisted living in Sioux Falls, where Joan enjoyed having her own apartment. In 2022, we moved to Minnesota, and my fiancé Tricia Kinney found them adjoining rooms at Haven Homes Assisted Living in Maple Plain. Thanks to Trish, they were now just nine minutes from our home. That same year, Haven Homes was recognized as the best assisted living facility in the entire state.
Unfortunately, Dana’s health continued to deteriorate due to multiple meningiomas. She received her last rites from Father Glen Jensen of Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Loretto, Minnesota, this past January. Dana passed away quietly on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, with Trish by her side.
Dana survives by her brothers Christopher Loria and Robert Loria, her sister Mary Ann Loria, her nephew Nathaniel Loria, and her niece Madison Loria.
In Dana’s memory, please consider donating to the American Cancer Society or the Epilepsy Foundation.
Love you always Sister, Chris “C.J.” Loria
Posted online on May 10, 2026
Published in The Belmont Citizen-Herald