Sally Donihee

Sally Gates (Francis) (Smith) Donihee, 65, passed away December 24, 2025. 

She was born July 2, 1960 in Massachusetts, and grew up in a home her father built near Forest Park. She graduated from Springfield Technical High School in 1978, then moved to Connecticut to start a family and raise her two children. Later in life, she remarried and set off for adventures across America. Sally suffered with the painful effects from Multiple Sclerosis (MS). She retired in warm, sunny Arizona to spend time with her mother. 

Preceded in death by her parents, Paul I and Dorothy Jean Francis and her beloved husband Wayne Donihee. 

Survived by siblings Carl (Diane) Francis, Raymond (Mary Kay) Francis, Fredrick (Leslie) Francis, Betty (Greg) Griffiths, Peter Francis, Gail (Rick) Mengelkoch; her children Sabrina (Nicholas) Ruggiero and Matthew Smith; her grandchildren Faith Ruggiero and Samantha Ruggiero, many cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends. 

The family wants to thank the staff (current and past) and the residents of Touchpoints at Chestnut in East Windsor, CT for taking such great care of Sally. Please know that you are all her family. 

Relatives and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life on May 30, 2026 11am at Northwest Park in Windsor, CT. It was Sally’s request that no formal funeral services be held. It was her request that we hold a happy, joyful gathering of those who loved her to celebrate the wonderful memories we have with each other. 

Donations can be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. 

https://donate.nationalmssociety.org