"Bis orat qui bene cantat" He who sings well prays twice." - St. Augustine

Donna Sue Salinas, 64, of Victoria, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, June 20, 2019 after a fifteen year battle with Type 2 diabetes. With her family by her side, she took her last breath and joined the ranks of the heavenly choir of angels, free forever from pain and suffering.

Donna was born in Baytown, Texas, on October 22, 1954, precious daughter and treasured only child of Warren and Dorothy Bennett Elder of Seabrook, Texas. She graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1973, where she was active in choral ensemble and musical theater. Raised in the Methodist tradition, she was a shining light of Christlike compassion and found personal fulfillment through her faith in the Lord God Almighty. An exemplary student, Donna continued her education at Baylor University and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1977 with a degree in Music Education. She later went on to complete her Master's degree in Education at Texas A& I.

After meeting her future husband working as a schoolteacher, she and her devoted fiancée Israel Salinas were wed in holy matrimony on July 28, 1979. This year marked four decades of fidelity and abiding love between them. Their blessed union produced two beautiful children, Christy Lynn and Christopher Blake. Her children were the light of her life, and she loved them with every particle of her being. After moving to Cuero in the early 1980's, they settled in Victoria where Israel was the well respected principal of F.W. Gross Elementary School, and Donna served faithfully for many years as a music teacher at Smith Elementary.

Donna was a witty, generous, and hardworking individual who was well liked by her peers for her easygoing attitude and kind personality. She was active in church as a soloist and member of the choir and later followed a calling to a more profound expression of her faith by converting to Catholicism in 2018. One of her greatest joys was singing. She was a member of the Victoria Bach Festival Chorus and the Conspirare Symphonic Choir in Austin. She could make a song out of anything and it was always accompanied with a smile.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents. Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Israel Salinas; daughter, Christy Henry and husband Matthew Henry; and son Blake Salinas, all of Victoria; and a host of friends and relatives she dearly loved.

Special thanks to all staff and medical professionals at Post Acute Medical & Hospice of South Texas Dornburg Center of Compassion.

Visitation will be June 28, 2019, 9 am at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Cuero with the Holy Rosary recited at 9:30 am.  A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10 am at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Cuero with Father Gary Janak presiding. Interment following at Hillside Cemetery.