Rona Dee Meinzer Commins

Rona Dee Meinzer Commins, 83, of Sacramento, CA, passed peacefully away on February 20, 2024, surrounded by loved ones.

Rona was born on March 16, 1940, to Lester and Claire Meinzer in Sacramento, CA, the second of seven children. She lived in Sacramento for most of her life.

Rona married Richard Thomas Commins in June 1960 and had three children: Tav Richard, Kip Lester, and Merrin Dee. Rona and Richard were married for over 63 years.

Rona loved music and played the piano, clarinet, violin, alto clarinet, saxophone, and organ and also had a beautiful singing voice. She earned a master’s degree in music performance at Sacramento State University. Rona shared her talents by teaching and performing music all over the world. She taught voice lessons to many students throughout the years and was known as one of the premier vocal teachers in Sacramento.

Rona was an avid traveler who visited many countries worldwide for pleasure and to enrich her musical career. Every summer for twenty-four years, she traveled to Florence, Italy, to teach music for the study abroad program through Sacramento and San Francisco State Universities. Florence was always her favorite city, and she loved her time there.

Rona lived a full and rich life, but nothing gave her more joy than being with her family and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She especially enjoyed sharing her love of music with all 14 of her grandchildren by teaching them all to play the piano and taking them to numerous concerts, ballets, and musical productions. Her musical legacy will forever be a part of their lives. She will be deeply missed.

Rona was preceded in death by her parents, Lester and Claire Meinzer, and her brothers Lance, Jan, and Lynn. She is survived by her siblings Deanne Ellsworth, Jacque Wright, and Terry Meinzer; her husband Richard; sons Tav and Kip (Jennifer) and daughter Merrin Hansen (Kevin); grandchildren Alysha (Logan), Matthew, Andrew (Adrianna), Michael (Samantha), Brittany, Megan, Rachel, Timothy, Tyler, Joshua, Zachary, Emily, Zane, and Allison, and great-grandchildren Quinn, Leonidas, Perseus, and Rose, as well as numerous other family members and close friends.

Services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2745 Eastern Ave. Sacramento on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at 10 am.

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