Donna Sanfilippo

Donna Ruth Sanfilippo, age 85 and a longtime resident of San Jose, California, passed away peacefully at her home in Sacramento, California, on July 6, 2025, after enduring severe COPD for many years.

Donna was born in 1940 in Claremore, Oklahoma, to the late Zelona and Donald Whitaker. She attended Campbell Union Elementary School and was a 1958 Graduate of Campbell High School. Donna was a top student who genuinely enjoyed scholastic challenges and was known for her “perfect” handwriting. During her school years, she was a majorette for the Sunnyvale Sparklers and cheerleader for the Campbell High Buccaneers. In 1953, Donna won the title of California State Champion for baton twirling.

Donna’s career life was varied and colorful. Early on, she worked at Campi Records and was a line worker canning peaches at the local Del Monte plant. Later, Donna helped manage the admissions and housing office at San Jose State University. In 1960, she took to the skies and became a stewardess for United Air Lines, which she enjoyed immensely. After she married, Donna worked on the admissions staff at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose, California.

Donna married her high school sweetheart, Vincent Sanfilippo, in 1961. They settled in the Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose to raise their two children, Todd and Stacey. During those years, Donna was a dedicated wife and mother, who spent hours volunteering her time at Sanfilippo Realty, Schallenberger Elementary School, Lincoln Glen Little League, and the Blue Bird Troop of the Willow Glen Campfire Girls. Donna was a cooking enthusiast who hosted wonderful celebrations and always created an unforgettable holiday atmosphere for family and friends. She and her husband, Vince, were particularly known for their Christmas Eve open house and their epic Capitola beach 4th of July parties.

Donna was a particularly good athlete. She taught her son to play basketball and her daughter to play tennis and enjoyed many years at San Jose Swim & Racket Club. Donna was also a big sports fan. She loved watching professional tennis, the San Francisco 49ers football team, and the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings basketball teams.

One the greatest joys of her life was her role as grandmother, otherwise known as “Grammy,” to her three granddaughters (Aubrey, Nina, and Natalie). She was always quick to jump on an airplane or hop in her car to visit and celebrate her out-of-town granddaughters and attend their school and club sporting events.

In recent years, Donna moved from Willow Glen to Sacramento so she could be closer to her immediate family and receive the additional care and support needed to live a happy and full life.

Donna was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Vincent C. Sanfilippo, her sister, June Little, her nephew, Dwight Little, her brother-in-law, Henry “Muggs” Sanfilippo, and her brother-in-law, Gerald Inman. She is survived by her sister, Bettina (Betty) Inman, her son, Todd Sanfilippo (Christine), her daughter, Stacey Gilroy (Rick), her granddaughters Aubrey Silbert, Nina Sanfilippo, and Natalie Sanfilippo, her cousin, Marlene DiTullio, and loving nieces, nephews, and friends.

Donna’s family would like to recognize her dear friend from Sacramento, John DeWeese, who was a blessing in every sense of the word during the last few years of her life.

Donna’s services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on August 2, 2025, at Lima Family Mortuary, 466 N. Winchester Blvd, Santa Clara, California, with a short burial service immediately following across the street at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery, 490 Lincoln St, Santa Clara, California.

Contributions in Donna’s memory may be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital Northern California or to the American Cancer Society, in lieu of flowers.