Dona M. Bettale (née Della Volpe), 93, died on Aug. 28 in St. Louis.

The daughter of Oreste and Rose (née Perrotta) Della Volpe, Dona was born in Brockton, Massachusetts. After graduating from Brockton High School, she attended secretarial school, worked at the Brockton Cut Sole Corporation and was a teller at Commercial Credit.

Dona met her husband, Jerry, while he was stationed at Cape Cod during his service in the Air Force. They fell in love, married in 1958, and moved to St. Louis to start their life together, building their beautiful family, of which she was so proud. She devoted her life to her family first, providing a loving and stable home to her six children. Dona worked part-time at Kiko’s Restaurant for many years and was an award-winning Avon Representative for decades. She also enjoyed volunteering her time and talents in a variety of parish and school organizations.

Dona was an active member of St. Andrews Church in Lemay for almost 20 years before moving with the family to St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Oakville.

Dona was proud of her Italian heritage and enjoyed crafts, cooking, music, dancing, running her Avon business and keeping up with family and friends. She was known for her quick wit, her gregarious personality, her beautiful smile and laugh, and her strength, resilience, and tenacity. Most of all, Dona will be remembered for her welcoming, caring, encouraging and generous spirit. She had an especially tender heart for children everywhere who are in need.

Dona was the beloved wife of her best friend Gerald “Jerry” Bettale for nearly 68 years. She was the loving mother of Kent Bettale, Jon Bettale, Tracy Watterson (née Bettale), Brett Bettale, Glen Bettale and Heather Blunk (née Bettale). She was a proud and caring grandmother of Elizabeth Bettale, Claire Bettale, Jay Bettale, Michael Bettale, the late Jordan Bettale, Allison Leber (née Bettale), Leo Watterson, Sophie Watterson, Nick Bettale, Chadwick Bettale, Givenchy Bettale, Ellis Blunk and Hugh Blunk, and great-grandson, Paddy Noonan Bettale. She was the beloved mother-in-law of Jacqueline Bettale, Kathy Haven, Bill Watterson, Christie Hull Bettale and Justin Blunk; the loving sister of Elaine Gardner (née Della Volpe) and the late James “Jimmy” Della Volpe; the kind sister-in-law of the late Alvin “Al” Bettale, the late Rose Bettale (née Steska), Marlene Bettale, the late Harry Gardner and Diane Della Volpe; and the sweet aunt to nephews Will Gardner and John Della Volpe and nieces Patricia Gardner and Kristen Moody (née Della Volpe).

Visitation will be held at the Fey Funeral Home in South St. Louis County on Sept. 9 from 4 to 8 p.m., and also at St. Francis of Assisi Parish Church on Sept. 10, from 9 a.m. until the Funeral Mass at 9:45 a.m. Dona’s burial will take place at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery following the Mass. A Celebration of Life luncheon and Remembrance will be held at Royale Orleans Banquet Center following Dona’s committal at Jefferson Barracks, from noon to 3:00 p.m., for extended family and invited guests.

In lieu of flowers, please consider dedicating a gift donation in honor of Dona’s life to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital @ stjude.org.