Her life was shaped by devotion to her family, a deep Catholic faith, and friendships formed wherever life took her.
Born on March 4, 1931, Doris was the daughter of Florinda and Primo Bonati, who emigrated from Italy and settled in a small town outside Boston, Massachusetts. She grew up playing the piano. After graduating from high school, she attended nursing school and served as a nurse in the United States Navy. Her Navy service took her to several locations across the country, including Pensacola, Florida, where she met Melvin Steinberg, a United States Marine Corps pilot. They married in Pensacola in 1957. A year after the birth of their first child, William, Doris was honorably discharged from the Navy.
Over the next seven years, they welcomed three more children: James, Jane, and Robert. Mel’s career brought frequent moves, with Kaneohe and Kailua, Hawaii, among the family’s most cherished homes. Doris’s outgoing personality helped her build friendships wherever they settled. While raising four children, Doris continued her nursing education with help from her mother, who lived with the family for several years. She studied for two years at the University of Hawaii and two years at East Carolina University, where she earned her four-year nursing degree. She worked in hospitals and public health clinics, primarily in Virginia Beach.
A devout Catholic, Doris was always active in her church, singing in the choir and serving as a lector, a role she particularly enjoyed. Her faith and participation in parish life remained important to her throughout her life. An accomplished golfer, Doris found great enjoyment on the course. The family lived beside one of her favorite courses in Hawaii, and she also loved playing at Red Wing and Eagle Haven in Virginia Beach. She treasured her many friendships and the opportunities to spend time together. Doris was also a foodie with a particular fondness for sweets. A good cook, she was always eager to learn new recipes, just like her mother. Doris and Mel retired to Melbourne, Florida. After Mel’s passing, Doris moved to Virginia Beach.
She is survived by her four children, William, James, Jane, and Robert; her daughter-in-law, Rachel Steinberg, Robert’s wife; and four grandchildren. She will be remembered with love for her warmth and her devotion to family, friends, and faith.
A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on November 4, 2026, at Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Virginia Beach.
A celebration of her life will also be held that day at Waterman’s restaurant in Virginia Beach.
Doris will be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery alongside her husband, Melvin, who was buried there with military honors.
