Dina P. Sanders

DINA P. SANDERS

Aug. 26, 1917- Aug. 28, 2005

A memorial Mass will be celebrated for Dina Saturday, January 14, at St. Joseph's Church in Holtville commencing at 10 a.m.
Dina Pirotta Sanders of Holtville, California, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend died at her daughter's home on August 28, 2005, in Council, Idaho.
Dina was born August 26, 1917, in the town of Anaconda, Montana, to the late Michael and Philomena (De Martini) Pirotta. On March 12, 1943, she married the late William B. Sanders, in Anaconda, Montana.
Mrs. Sanders graduated from Rosary College, Chicago, IL, in 1940. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Science and was a registered dietician for over fifty years. In that time, she was a consultant at Calexico Hospital, El Centro Community Hospital, Pioneers Memorial Hospital, Valley Convalescent Hospital, Imperial Manor, and Imperial Valley Retirement Inn.
In 1947, Dina and her family moved to California's Imperial Valley. She was a Registered Dietitian worked at the Tuberculosis Sanatorium, located outside of Holtville, from 1952-1967 as a Food Services Director. She also worked for the Imperial County Welfare Department from 1967-1981. She retired from Imperial County Welfare Department in 1981.
Dina was an active member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, where she was the first woman Eucharist Minister in the San Diego Diocese. Dina was honored for outstanding services offered to God and the parish community in 2002. She was fond of saying that the two most important things in her life were her family and her Catholic faith. She was also very active in the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD), the choir, and the Ladies of St. Joseph, with whom shared a weekly sewing circle. Dina was a charter member of the Holtville Soroptimist International Club, in 1953. She was also active in the Imperial Valley Italian-American Club, the Imperial Valley Pioneers Association, and worked with the Share Commodities Distribution Program to distribute meals for the poor in Imperial Valley. Dina was also an opera enthusiast, enjoyed sewing, and made many trips with her traveling companion, the late Jean Critchlow. Dina was very active until her last few years, and often said, "I've never been bored a day in my life."
Dina is survived by children Mickey and his wife Cheri of Vista, CA, Marion and her husband Kenneth Feil of Council, ID, Linda and her husband Ronald Rubin of Brawley, CA, and Richard and his wife Cathy of Marana AZ; eleven grandchildren, Dina (Rick) O'Leary of Seattle, WA; Christian (Wendy) Sanders of Tucson, AZ; Kevin Feil (Erin) of Council, ID; Michael Sanders of Marana, AZ; Aimee (Steven) Plette of Oceanside, CA; Claire Rubin of Balboa, CA; Carlie (Keith) Lancaster of Marana, AZ; Kurt Rubin of Newport Beach, CA; Alan Sanders of Vista, CA; Kaylin Rubin of Davis, CA; Daniel Sanders of Boulder, CO: and nine great-grandchildren, Kathryn Anderson of Dallas, TX; Alayna Sanders of Marana, AZ; Giovanna and Jaiden Sanders of Tucson, AZ; Caleb Lancaster of Marana, AZ; Brenna O'Leary of Seattle, WA; Bryce and Chandler Bosse, and Krista Feil of Council, ID. She is also survived by nieces, nephews, and other relatives and loved ones. Her brother Mario and her sister Ella preceded her in death.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her name to St. Joseph Catholic Church.