Minnie Donnie Mary Arroyo

Minnie Donnie Mary Arroyo

April 14, 1928 - March 30, 2010

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!

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39 responses to Minnie Donnie Mary Arroyo

  1. Denise, that was a wonderful obituary for your Mother. It sounds like she had a very full and beautiful life. Stay strong, my prayers are with you and your family.

  2. Joanne Ward says:

    Diane,
    My prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. You will always treasure the special moments shared with your Mom. May she rest in peace.

    Your friend,
    Joanne

  3. Mimi Gussow says:

    I was so saddened to hear of Donnie’s passing. Knowing her was a great pleasure. I first heard about her and Gus through Steve who I worked with, carpooled with and whose family was part of mine for some time. On meeting Donnie, there was something I felt immediately that was comfortable. Perhaps our being fellow New Yorkers had something to do with that. Something of the New York aura was a familiar and welcome feeling for me in California. I truly enjoyed any time I had with her and Gus and am sorry I didn’t have more time with her. I send my sincerest condolences and love to Gus, Steve, Justin, Darren, Brandon and the rest of your family about whom I’ve heard so much about over the years.

  4. Dear Arroyo Family,
    I am a friend of Diane’s. She and I go back as far as Jr. High School but became reaquainted through facebook. I am so sorry for the loss of your wife Mr. Arroyo and your mother all the Arroyo children. I hope you all find peace in knowing she now is with our Lord and is in a perfect place. May each of you also find comfort in your wonderful memories of her. And may you all find it comforting to know you are each in others prayers and thoughts.
    Sincerely,
    Randi Metchnikoff-Jones

  5. On behalf of our Arroyo Family ~ our dad, Gus, Steve, Diane, Tom & Denise; our husband’s & grand children…we wish to say THANK YOU ALL dear friends & family for your prayers, caring thoughts & support through this very difficult time & great loss in our family. The Memorial Service & Funeral was beautiful and we hope we honored our mother’s memory with a celebration of her LIFE. Through many tough years, there was still so many wonderful times & memories to celebrate. We love her & miss her immensely!

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