HAMPTON — Donnie Wood Minetti, 83, passed away Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, with her family by her side. Donnie was born in Cobbtown, Georgia, the youngest of four children.
She enjoyed life on her family farm until she suddenly lost her mother at only 9 years old. Her family later moved to Hampton to be closer to her older sister. Donnie graduated from Hampton High School in 1954, where she excelled in many sports and was named athlete of the year and also MVP for basketball.
Donnie then went to work for the City of Hampton, where she met the love of her life, Pat Minetti, a Hampton Police patrol officer. After dating for nine months, they were married in 1956 and enjoyed 61 years together before his passing in 2018. Our mom and mom-mom was the heart of our family and is dearly missed already. A true Southern lady, she passed away peacefully, with grace and dignity — just how she lived.
Donnie is survived by her daughters, Toni M. (Mark) Haaland and Teri M. Smith; four grandchildren, Ryan (Kelly) Smith, Robyn (Greg) Rockwell, Kristin (Tyler) Ayers and Patrick Haaland; six great-grandchildren, Reagan, Jack, Lyla, Graham, Connor and Landon; and sister, Natalie Cradic.
Prayer and visitation will be offered from 10 to 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 11, at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Immediately following visitation, a funeral Mass will be celebrated by the Rev. Msgr. Walter C. Barrett. To view the funeral Mass online live, please click here after 10:50 a.m.
The family requests that memorial donations be made to St. Mary’s Star of the Sea School, 14 N. Willard Ave., Hampton, VA 23663.
Share online condolences with the family at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home.
