Doris Ann Valletta

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Doris Ann Valletta (nee Goldberg). Doris died on Thursday, March 6th, 2025 at her home in Citrus Heights, CA. She was 91. Born August 15th, 1933 in Plainfield, NJ, Doris was the only child of Mrs Catherine Mary Goldberg (nee Salvatore) and Abraham Goldberg.

A talented pianist and organist throughout her youth, Doris enrolled at the University of Connecticut majoring in music. It was at a UCONN party that she met her future husband, Robert (Bob) Valletta. Doris quit college after completing her first year and Bob and she married on September 5th, 1953. Together they set off for Iowa State where Doris supported Bob while he completed his PhD. She worked in the college's medical lab making petri dishes. It was there that they made many lifelong friends, especially Joe and Maridale Hanak. Years later, this friendship resulted in the honor of a Hanak daughter-in-law. Bob and Doris remained married for 71 years until his death last December.

A bit of a radical for Burlington, VT in the late 60’s, Doris was one of the first residents to bring home albums by The Beatles. She loved Jane Austen books and Masterpiece Theater productions. A dedicated mother, she got her 4 kids up before dawn in the dead of winter in Vermont to get them to swim practice before dropping them at school. During the summer, she walked down the street with them to swim in Lake Champlain. When the family moved to San Jose, CA in 1974, the Pacific Ocean replaced Lake Champlain. Many summer days were spent driving to Santa Cruz and hanging out on the beach or wharf. Doris loved to drive and often took her mother Catherine on long adventures once the kids were grown.

Doris’s kindness and generosity knew no bounds. She regularly donated to food banks, shelters and veterans organizations and felt bad that she couldn't do more. Doris loved to give gifts. She never missed family birthdays and often gave gifts to friends and neighbors.

Doris is survived by her son Jon and daughter-in-law Janice, her son Rob and daughter-in-law Ellen, daughters Christal and Mary Catherine and son-in-law Lincoln, sisters-in-law Patricia and Barbara, granddaughters Pia, Haley, Zoe and Christina, as well as great grandsons Niko and Remy.

Her ashes will be interred at Sylvan Cemetery, 7401 Auburn Blvd., Citrus Heights, CA on Saturday, April 12th, 2025 at 11:30 am followed by a celebration of her life at the Crosswoods Community Center, 6742 Auburn Blvd., Citrus Heights, CA.