Donna M. Velotta

Donna M. (nee Hagen) Velotta was born to Anthony J. and Celia M. (Kitilla) Hagen on March 8, 1937 in Charleroi, Washington County, PA. She passed away at Rancho Mirage Rehabilitation Center in Rancho Mirage, CA on April 17, 2015.

Donna spent her childhood in Pennsylvania, and graduated from Burgettstown High School in 1955, after which she began working as a stenographer for John Schmidt Life Insurance Company in Pittsburg, PA. In 1957, Donna enlisted with the United States Air Force, attending basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX. Donna was honorably discharged on July 7, 1960 as an Airman First Class, Regular Air Force.

After leaving the military, Donna accepted an administrative assistant position for USAA Life Insurance in San Antonio. It was during this time that Donna met her future husband, Robert (Bob) Jerry Velotta, and they were married on August 14, 1964 in Tlaxcala, Mexico.

Donna enjoyed married life, and the couple lived in Flagstaff, AZ, Kingsburg, CA and Anaheim, CA before subsequently returning to San Antonio. They remained in San Antonio until Bob's untimely death on August 11, 1980, three days prior to their 16th wedding anniversary. The couple had no children and Donna never remarried.

Donna ultimately returned to California at the urging of family and friends, and lived in Indio and La Quinta prior to settling in Cathedral City, Calif. in 1985. In 1987, she began working for the City of Cathedral City, where she served as an administrative assistant, was successfully elected City Clerk, and at one point, served in the dual role of City Clerk and Deputy City Clerk. Donna retired from City Hall, but ultimately returned to serve as administrative assistant to the City Engineer. She successfully retired 'for good' in October 2009.

During her free time, Donna enjoyed playing Mahjong, watching golf - especially Tiger Woods, tending to her fur-babies Becky and Beau, sharing amusing jokes with her friends, listening to the news, and cruising the various shopping channels and catalogs for that "deal of the day."

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Anthony and Celia Hagen; husband Robert Velotta; and sisters, Joanne Smalley and Kathy Smith. She is survived by her sister, Mary Beth Knopsnider of Desert Hot Springs, CA; brother, John Hagen of Clinton, IA; and numerous nieces and nephews.

At Donna's request, there will be no local services; she will be interred with her beloved husband at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio with a small gravesite service. A Celebration of Life luncheon will be held at La Gran Fiesta, 35325 Date Palm Drive #121, Cathedral City, CA 92234; date as yet undetermined. Please contact Sheila McGrath at DMVCOLluncheon@gmail.com for further information. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution to her favorite charity, The American Cancer Society.