SPRINGFIELD – Virginia M. (Santamaria) McDonald, age 102, of the Atwater section of Springfield, was Called Safely Home on Saturday, January 11, 2020. She passed into Eternal Life at the Jewish Nursing Home in Longmeadow surrounded by all the memories she loved and cherished. She was born in Springfield on November 10, 1917, a beloved daughter of the late Carmine and Antonietta (Desimone) Santamaria. She was raised in Springfield, graduated from the former Cathedral High School and was a lifelong resident of Springfield. She was a wonderful cook and prepared many delicious meals for her family and many friends. She was known by her family to be “way ahead of her time” and through her long life was always there to give her loving advice to her family. During her leisure time, she enjoyed traveling to Deerfield Beach, Florida and California. Most of all, she loved her family and her friends and showered them with her love and affection. She was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Springfield. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Robert J. McDonald who was Called Home on May 21, 1998. They were married on May 25, 1940 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Springfield and were blessed with over 57 years of happiness together. She leaves her three loving children, Donna V. Nolan and her husband, James, and Daniel R. McDonald and his wife, Deborah, all of Venice, FL and Sheila M. Grassetti and her husband, Vincent, of Longmeadow; her seven cherished grandchildren, Thomas and Dennis, Darren and Terri, Jessica and her husband, Matthew, Alex and his companion, Alley, and Andrew and his wife, Christina; her two cherished great-grandchildren, Connor and Grace; her dear sister-in-law, Dorothy Santamaria of Springfield; and her many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the McDonald and Santamaria families. Besides her parents and husband, she was also predeceased by her loving daughter, Linda A. Livengood and her husband, Ramon; her loving son, Dennis P. McDonald; her three dear brothers, Pasquale, James and Rinaldo “Leo” Santamaria; and her two dear sisters, Ricca Santamaria and Dora Goodman. Her funeral will be held on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Springfield Chapels, (413-737-1177), 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107, (funeral home will open at 8 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01104. Her burial will follow the Mass at Saint Michael Cemetery, 1601 State Street, Springfield, MA 01109. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. before the Mass. Her family requests that memorial donations be made in her memory to Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01104. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com
