Minnie Donnie Mary Arroyo
April 14, 1928 - March 30, 2010
- Share:
Minnie Donnie Mary Arroyo
April 14, 1928 - March 30, 2010
Obituary
Our mother, Donnie Arroyo, age 81 of San Clemente, CA died Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at Coastline Community Hospital in Santa Ana, CA.
Donnie was born Minnie Mary Bonanno on April 14, 1928 in Queens, New York of Sicilian parents. She grew up in New York State with her many cousins, aunts & uncles; proud of her Italian roots and with a strong faith in God and her Catholic upbringing. After high school she moved with her parents to California where she attended business college and met our dad. They were married on December 30, 1950 at Holy Angels Church in Arcadia, CA. She lived a simple, frugal life devoted to her husband, Gus and her four children, Steve, Diane, Tom and Denise.
Our mother’s greatest love in her early years was our many family camping trips to Yosemite & Sequoia National Parks, El Capitan State Beach, and King’s Canyon; tent camping under the stars, firing up the Coleman stove with something wonderful cooking & just enjoying nature around us. In her mid-years, she & our dad enjoyed taking off in their small camper to Huntington Beach State Park on the southern California coast where they shared many camp fires with family & friends.
Mom was devoted to her family and took pride in her flavorful cooking and amazing baking. Every holiday celebration was made special by the meals she prepared and the baking that came out of her oven. We all looked forward to her ?mile high? apple pie and the many varieties of Christmas cookies, especially her snowballs!
She loved her potted plants which she kept all over their home; she had such a green thumb that she could bring any twig back to life and to full bloom. Pansies and African Violets were her favorites. She loved her crafts also and could ?doodle? for many hours with her little projects and create all kinds of inventive treasures.
Donnie is survived by her husband of 59 years, Gus, her eldest son, Steve, and his boys Justin, Brandon and Darren; her eldest daughter, Diane and her husband David; her middle son, Tom and her youngest daughter Denise, her husband Jerry and granddaughter Makaela.
The pain and suffering is behind her now and she is at peace in heaven with our Lord. We love you, Mom; you will be greatly missed by us all!
39 responses to Minnie Donnie Mary Arroyo
Donna Tantillo Kent says:
April 8, 2010
Dear Gus and family,
Sending you my sincere condolences on the passing of Donnie. I know she was like a sister to my mother!
Thinking of all of you,
Donna Tantillo Kent
Linda Tantillo says:
April 8, 2010
Hello Steve, Diane and Denise–
I’m sorry to hear about your mother’s death. I am trying to get addresses for you, but this will have to do for now.
We had such a great time with your family when we were in California in 1963!
Linda Tantillo
Linda Tantillo says:
April 8, 2010
Hello Steve, Diane and Denise–
I’m sorry to hear about your mother’s death. I am trying to get addresses for you, but this will have to do for now.
We had such a great time with your family when we were in California in 1963!
Linda Tantillo
Annie Tantillo Figliola says:
April 9, 2010
Dear, Steve, Diane, Denise,
My thoughts are with you all during this difficult time of losing your mother. We know it’s a long process of grieving and adjustment.
I remember Donnie, from our visit to you in California in 1963, and your parents’ visits to New Paltz, as fun-loving, energetic, and an engaging talker. And I remember the stories our mother, Uncle Gus, Uncle Tony ,and Gus in Washington would tell when they got together about the good times thay all had together, along with your mother, in the past; seems like it was a lively and close gang throughout their growing up. I also retain the memory of knowing that, when our mother was on the phone with Donnie, she was going to be there a LONG time!
Please, also, convey my thoughts to
Gus, and let him know we are thinking of him during this time of sadness and loss.
It woud be nice to re-connect with all of you sometime.
Love,
Annie
Christine & Ron Lee says:
April 9, 2010
Mrs. Arroyo will be greatly missed by her family and friends, she is in our thoughts and prayers. I remember when her daughter Denise was having Makeala we found out John Travolta was there,Mrs.Arroyo tracked him down,and got an autograph baby cap for her grandaughter!She loved her family!