David James Page

David James Page, 82, Indianapolis, passed away Sunday, December 3, 2023 surrounded by his loving wife, children and grandchildren. David was born on February 16, 1941 and grew up in Fountain Square as a member of the Holy Rosary parish near downtown Indianapolis. He was one of five children born to Paul and Mary Page, and is survived by his two sisters, Marie Pittman-Oeschle and Antoinette Dullaghan (Richard).

David spent his life in the neighborhood that he loved. He attended Holy Rosary school alongside many of his cousins and family friends. He loved playing ball in Greer Park and admired the hard-working women in the neighborhood who helped raise him.

David’s wife, Rosemary, grew up one street over from David. She fondly remembers him waiting outside school for her every morning in the fifth grade. David and Rosemary married in 1959 and shared 64 happy years together.

David understood the value of hard work from a young age. As early as six years old, David was working in the Indianapolis City Market. He would go on to become a successful and proud entrepreneur. With a passion for food and hospitality, many of his ventures included restaurants, bars, and event centers, including Page’s Deli, David’s Fine Foods, La Scala Restaurant, White House, Shindig, Don’t Ask, Marion County Jail Commissary Catering, Primo Catering & Event Center and Café Nonna gelato shop. Other ventures included Feature Film, Manumark Bird Feed, Tan & Tone Express, and several condominium developments in Naples, Florida.

David was passionate about his Italian heritage. He was a founding member of the Italian Heritage Society, and as an avid golfer, helped establish the annual IHSI Italian American Golf Tournament to raise money for the organization’s scholarship fund. Thanks to David, many of us have enjoyed hot summer nights at the Holy Rosary Italian Street Festival, which David founded and proudly ran for twenty-seven years. He was also known to host spaghetti dinners to raise money for many parishes around the city.  He was highly devoted to his community, and served on the City County Council from 1979 to 1987.

Above all else, David prioritized his family, which was the most cherished part of his life. He and Rosemary host weekly Sunday dinners with their family and friends at their home on Stevens Street. He participated in his children and grandchildren’s sporting events and academic activities, and even worked alongside many of them at Primo. Known for his “open door policy”, you can stop into their home at any given time and find family, friends and neighbors gathered around the kitchen table sharing a cup of coffee and a meal.

David was preceded in death by his mother and father, Paul and Mary Page, his son, Michael A. Page, and his brothers, Peter and Paul Page.

He is survived by his wife, Rosemary Page, children Mary Ann Sullivan, Annette Page, Rosemarie Bayt (Jack), and Paul Page (Holly); grandchildren Antoinette Fox (Jeff), Kristen Malone (Patrick), Michael Sullivan (Nicole), Gina Glas (Grant), Lucia McBroom (Matt), Jack Bayt II, Nicholas Rutan, Rosemary Bland (Dustin), Annemarie Rossman (Ryan), Antonia Rossman (Paul), Maria Reeser (Curtis), Victoria Page, David Page, Ava Kress, Dominique Page, Isabella Page, and Michael Page; great grandchildren Cecilia and Liliana Fox, Lucas and Gus Malone, Juliette and Gino Sullivan, Madeleine and Griffin Glas, James and Margaret McBroom, Greyson and Simon Bland, Dominic, Eli, Matthew and Sophia Rossman, Brady, Grace, Emerson and Josephine Rossman, Anabelle Rose, Vera and Camille Reeser; sisters Marie Pittman-Oeschle, Antoinette Dullaghan and many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, December 11, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, 520 Stevens St, Indianapolis, IN 46203. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. A celebration of life luncheon will be held at Primo Catering & Event Center immediately following the services.

A visitation will be held Sunday, December 10, 2023, from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM in O’Riley-Branson Funeral Service & Crematory, 6107 S East St, Indianapolis, IN 46227, where morning prayers will be said on Monday at 10:00 AM prior to Mass. The family asks that memorial contributions be made to Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Little Sisters of the Poor, and Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) in lieu of flowers.