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Donna Jane Todeschini

Donna Jane Todeschini passed peacefully away at her home in Sonoma on May 14, 2012, her loving family at her side.

  Donna was born in San Jose, on Nov. 16, 1929, to Albert and Bess Hayes. She moved to Napa when she was 2. At 9, she and her two brothers, Ross and Bob, moved with their parents to Sonoma where she attended Flowery School and Sonoma Valley High School, class of 1948.

  On Aug. 1, 1951, she married Silvio Joseph Todeschini. Donna was an active member of many philanthropic volunteer organizations, including Sonoma Valley Hospital Auxiliary, Native Daughters, Napa Valley Women’s Club, Sonoma Valley Woman’s Club, Sonoma Valley Historical Society and Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority. She volunteered at Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, Meals On Wheels, and several other local groups.

  Donna was employed for many years by the Sonoma Valley Schools as a bus driver and a teacher’s assistant. She also ran a successful framing business in downtown Sonoma, Acorn Frameworks. However, her greatest accomplishment and joy was raising two loving and successful children.

  Donna enjoyed many personal interests including painting, pottery, throwing pots on a wheel made by her husband, Silvio, and clay sculpture. She made many beautiful porcelain dolls, carved wooden decoys and created stained glass hangings. She was an expert seamstress and made all her own shirts, as well as items for her children and grandchildren. She belonged to ladies golf groups in both Napa and Sonoma counties.

  If she had more time she would have traveled more. She took many wonderful trips with family and friends both in the United States and abroad. Her favorite trips were to England, Ireland, Scotland, Hawaii and the Grand Canyon.

  She is survived by her husband, Silvio; sons Jack (Lorna), of Sonoma and Robert (Sharon), of Murphys; grandchildren, Robert (Laurel), of Sonoma, Mallory Todeschini, of San Jose and Silvio Todeschini, of Murphys.

  Donna was a talented artist and a generous woman who loved her family and friends; she will be missed by all who knew her.

  At her request, no formal services will be held. Final disposition was at sea off the Marin County coast.

  Those who wish are encouraged to make donations in her name to: Hospice By The Bay, 190 W. Napa St., Sonoma, CA 95476.

Duggan’s Mission Chapel

Mission Cremation Service

525 W. Napa St.

Sonoma, CA.

707-996-3655