Donna Lee Santiago, age 86, of Celina, Texas, passed away from natural causes on September 23, 2021. Donna was born November 30, 1934, in Osage, Oklahoma, to William Stanfield and Faye Estelle (Carrington) Bennett. She married Roberto Santiago on October 20, 1973, in Puerto Rico.
Donna lived life on her own terms. She was funny and vivacious and the glue that held her family together. She was a woman who did what she set her mind to. In 1971 she packed up her kids, moved to Puerto Rico, and with the help of her soon to be husband and friends, she opened her own bar called “Simply Donna’s”. She made lifelong friends and memories there, but when she knew it was best for her family to move on, she did. After moving back to the states she held different jobs, but her most important job was always being the best daughter, wife, mother and grandmother anyone could ask for. She had a strong sense of family and a caring spirit. She took care of her mother and her cousin until the day they died. She loved to garden, collect recipes, and travel. She adored animals, especially her Yorkie's. Donna was someone you could count on. She was the life of the party, a blessing to her family and friends, and she will be greatly missed by all.
Donna is survived by her husband, Roberto Santiago of Celina, Texas; children, William Martin Saniewski and wife, Diane of Celina, Texas, Carrie Lynn Perez of Denison, Texas, and Holly Faye Coppedge and husband, Kenneth of Aubrey, Texas; step-children, Deborah Ann Stewart and husband, Richard Horbath and Diane Lynn LaBar and husband, Michael, all of New Jersey; grandchildren, Brett LaBar, Michael LaBar, David Stewart, Brynda Lee Saniewski, Daniel Lee Hastings, Lola Nichole Hastings, Robby Candido Perez, Melissa Victoria Perez, Ryan William Perez, Victorio (Jay) Perez, Ethan Robert Coppedge, and Jacob Charles Coppedge; great-grandchildren, Kegan Hunter Cannaday, Kaylea Nichole Hastings, William Christian Hastings, Alexis Krystyne Hastings, Bradyn Alexander Hastings, Ophelia Grace Perez, Penelope Rhea Perez, Liam Jay Perez, Madalynn Kay Perez, Halley Rose Perez, Jennifer Alice Perez, and James Jay Perez; brother, Jimmy Dean Bennett and wife, Kathy of Gunter, Texas; and niece, Debbie Bennet, also of Gunter.
She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, Martin Francis Saniewski; granddaughter, Katherine Arthur; son-in-law, Victor Perez; and nephew, Jack Bennett.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, October 2, 2021, at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 109 S. Oklahoma St., Celina, Texas, 75009.