Donna Marie Vorhes

Houston

Donna Marie Vorhes broke her mortal bounds with Earth on Sunday, August 23, 2025 after a long illness.

Donna was born on September 23, 1954 in Brooklyn, New York, the second child of Joseph A. Carretto Sr. and Dorothy T. Carretto. As the daughter of an Air Force officer she lived in many places, including Germany, where she toured Europe with the “Revelation Generation”, a multi-faith contemporary choir of American students dedicated to promoting faith and joy. She returned to the United States and graduated high school in Montgomery, Alabama. During those early years she developed her love for music and theater, and went on to receive her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Montevallo and her Master’s degree from Ohio State University, focused in Music and Voice. She always found joy in singing and playing piano at recitals, in church, and on stage in school or local theater productions, and taught both voice and piano to many aspiring young artists.

In 1983 she married Captain Paul W. Vorhes, Jr., a Green Beret veteran of the Vietnam war. Together they continued the wanderlust of the (former) military but settled down in Houston, Texas. Paul passed away in 2004, and Donna built her new life of faith and music with new friends and her church, St. Albert of Trapani Catholic Church. She was an active parishioner, singing, playing piano, and supporting every way she could. She even named her cat “Albert” in honor of the church. She served in the Legion of Mary and was President of the praesidium for several years.

Donna now joins her father and mother, as well as her brother Robert Carretto, all of whom predeceased her. She leaves behind her sister Regina Lawrence (M.O./Buck) and brother Joseph Carretto, Jr. (Carol), as well as nieces, a nephew, her special friend Jerry Clark, and numerous loving church friends.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Albert of Trapani Catholic Church in Houston on Friday, September 12, 2025 at 11:00am.

The burial will take place at a later date at the Veterans Cemetery in Biloxi, MS.

Donations to St. Albert of Trapani may be given in lieu of flowers.

Donna lived a loving, faithful, and hopeful life. May she rest in peace with her Lord.