Donna M Stockholm

Born on July 31, 1938 in Chicago, Illinois, she was the first child of Clifford and Marion Sullivan. Clifford was an ophthalmologist who served honorably in the Air Force during Donna’s early years. Known for his humor and ease with story and song, Cliff was a true Irish “seanchaí.” Marion was a devoted wife and mother whose anchoring presence and deep faith in God kept family life running smooth. As the oldest, Donna had the distinct pleasure of welcoming her much adored siblings, Bobby, Jeanne, and Tommy. In Chicago, the Sullivans were active members of community life at both Christ the King Church and Beverly Country Club. These years were full of laughter, family, and cherished moments shared with siblings, cousins, and the dearest of friends. Donna loved to reminisce about her childhood years and she carried these memories and relationships close to her heart throughout her life. Though she nearly sabotaged her junior year of high school when she decided to forgo carrying her books to school because she felt it ruined her outfits, she managed to graduate from Academy of Our Lady, Longwood High School in good standing and was accepted into Saint Mary’s College where she was off for the next series of adventures.

At Saint Mary’s, Donna studied French language and literature, lighting a fire for French history and culture that became a lifelong passion. While there, she also participated actively in the theater program that brought Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s students together for productions like “Oklahoma!” and “The Music Man,” to name just a few. She was the first to admit that she was not the strongest singer in the chorus, but there was no one who enjoyed singing, dancing, and entertaining more than Donna Mary Sullivan-Stockholm. Like her father, Donna had an intuitive sense for how to use song and dance to cultivate joy and connection. This talent served her onstage and off and she made the most of it her whole life.

Upon graduating, Donna worked several jobs to save up for a year of studies at the Alliance Française in Paris. She set sail from New York harbor on the SS Liberté with Clifford and Marion waving goodbye from the shoreline. Many Parisian and European escapades ensued. At the time, it was uncommon for a young American woman to travel across the globe to study in a foreign country. But Donna had a kind of quiet determination and unshakable courage that made decisions like this seem obvious to those who knew her. Though her humility and self-effacing humor prevented her from claiming the title for herself, she was a trailblazer of sorts. She took chances that required a sharp mind and a brave heart. She had both, of that there was no question.

In 1964 she was introduced to Jon Stockholm, the love of her life. She liked to tell the story of how she would arrive at his State Street apartment to hear “The Girl from Ipanema” drifting out of his window, a dreamy song that recounts the story of a man who was ready to give his heart gladly. And, indeed, in late December 1965, Jon put a ring in a tiny stocking and held it to the fireplace when she walked into the room. They married in 1966 and welcomed their first child, Kristin, two years later. Their son, Carl, followed shortly after, and then their two youngest daughters, Kate and Jamie. By the time Jamie arrived, the Stockholms had relocated to San Diego, California, where Jon had undertaken training in the early sixties when he served as a young officer on SEAL Team 1. Jon remembered the ocean views and the weather fondly, so when the opportunity to move presented itself, they took a chance and made a fresh start. San Diego welcomed the family with open arms.

In San Diego, Donna devoted herself to her family with singular focus and lots of God. She was a reliably present figure at PTA meetings, Sunday mass, and in the stands at OLP cheer meets, Uni wrestling matches, and many years worth of Uni volleyball games. If you showed up to the Stockholms’ house in Point Loma, there was a good chance you would find fresh baked chocolate chip cookies or banana bread to greet you. Donna was an active member in the Catholic parishes where her family attended mass, be that Saint Charles, Saint Agnes, or, later, Nativity Church. She also loved to spend time hand-in-hand with her precious husband, Jon, who remained utterly charmed by and devoted to his wife until his passing in 2019. Their last years together were some of their happiest, a testament to the strength of their long standing love for one another. “Plus qu’hier, moins que demain.” It is no coincidence that this happiness coincided with the arrival of their six beloved granddaughters: Emma (Kristin and Ray), Audrey and Elyn (Carl and Kara), Marion and Margaux (Kate and Alvin), and Alma (Jamie and Olivier). These six girls lit up the lives and hearts of both their grandparents, serving as a wellspring of joy, astonishment, and great pride.

Donna was known by all for her love for her family, her warmth, her sense of humor, her faith in God, and her way of putting others at ease. She knew how to make people laugh and loved to see them happy. She did her best to facilitate joy wherever she went. She was unspeakably proud of her husband’s service and of her role as the wife of a SEAL Team 1 Plank Owner. Keenly aware of and grateful for the many blessings in her life, she also faced her fair share of hardship and heartbreak. Her faith in God and her devotion to her family shaped how she met those difficult moments. In the last year of her life, she demonstrated remarkable courage, clarity of mind, and grace in the face of many health challenges. She was held with support, love, and impeccable care throughout this time by Martha Van Luken and her treasured family. Her greatest wish was for those she loved to feel held by God and to be well in body, mind, and spirit. May she rest in peace and may her prayers be answered.

A mass will be held in Donna’s honor at Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church on Monday, July 29 at 10am. http://www.saintcharlespl.com/

Watch the memorial mass at Saint Charles here: https://www.youtube.com/@StCharlesPointLoma/featured

The service will be followed by a reception at The Bali Hai on Shelter Island.

Donations can be made in her honor to the Navy Seal Foundation: https://www.navysealfoundation.org/