Donna Marie Engmann

1950 - 2022

Donna Marie Engmann
April 10, 1950 - October 18, 2022
Donna Marie Engmann was a strong and selfless woman who always put others first, loved making people smile with a sarcastic joke, was beloved as a teacher and above all devoted to her family and friends. She passed away on October 18, 2022 at the age of 72.
Donna was born in Albany, NY on April 10, 1950 to William and Barbara Hurley. She grew up in Bennington, Vermont as the second of seven children. Donna loved Vermont and frequently returned to take in the scenic beauty and to reconnect with old friends with whom she maintained lifelong friendships.
Donna attended high school for a year at Mount Anthony High and then went to Elmhurst boarding school. She attended Bryant and Stratton College in Boston before deciding to jump in an old Volkswagen Beetle with a friend, drive across the country and start fresh in San Francisco.
Donna attended SF State, where she earned her Bachelor's Degree. One night in 1974, she met her husband Michael at the Cliff House. They were married in 1979 and she spent the rest of her life with him.
Donna and Michael had two sons, Sean and Brad. Donna was completely devoted to doing everything for her family. She taught herself how to cook and regularly prepared her family restaurant quality meals, always having an extra plate ready even after her boys moved out of the house.
Donna loved working with kids, got her Masters Degree in Education from USF and served as a substitute teacher for the Archdiocese in San Francisco for over 20 years. "Mrs. E" always prepared unique lessons for her students and always had "fun facts" and games at the ready to keep her students entertained. She also taught at the Juvenile Justice Center and John Adams Community College hoping to change lives through the gift of education.
Donna was an avid reader who enjoyed reading a book a day. She loved listening to music and entertaining friends. She was deeply patriotic and she never missed an opportunity to express her pride in her country. She absolutely loved being a grandmother, playing with her grandchildren, teaching them, reading to them and just bragging about them.
In life, Donna was always recognizable by her long blonde hair and bright red nails. She had no filter and always called things as she saw them. She was fiercely loyal and was the first to stick up for a friend in need or distress. She was easygoing, kind and generous. She leaves behind Michael, her husband of 43 years, her sons Sean and Brad, their wives Kristen and Marcela and three grandchildren Shane, Emelia and Lucas. Donna was deeply loved and will be sorely missed.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, October 27th at 11am at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 2559 40th Ave. in San Francisco.