Alla V. LaGrave

November 22, 1938 - March 2, 2023

Alla V. LaGrave, age 84 of South San Francisco, CA passed away peacefully Thursday, March 2, 2023 of natural causes. Alla was an immigrant who came to this country at the age of 2, arriving on Angel Island in San Francisco Bay. Here, she settled in the City of San Francisco with her mother and father Victor Sr. and Klavdia Donchenko. Originally born in Harbin, Manchuria on 22 November 1938. Several years later the Donchenko family, now grateful citizens of America would be complete with the birth of Alla’s little brother, Victor Jr.

Alla is also survived by her kind and loyal children Janay (J-Bird), Tom Jr., Jeffrey, and Mark. Her daughter’s-in-law: Kathleen and Robin. Her three grandchildren: Joshua, Ben, and Lucas. Recently passed, Thomas J. LaGrave, Sr. was her ex-husband having met one another at Polytechnique High School in the City of San Francisco.

Alla’s life and greatest loves were about nurturing and embracing both family and friends. Incredibly artistic, this is made clear by entering her home. There on the walls and floors you can see the needle craft, paintings, and especially her rug-hooking. The word voracious in Alla’s case is the only word which comes close to expressing her love of books, growing up all her children need not use a library, when her walls held all you needed to complete any school assignment.

It would be easy to share on and on the joys of being Alla’s children and or friends. In closure, Alla and the family moved into a home on a street (Nyla), it being one block long. Alla’s door was always open especially on various evenings where all the other mothers came to rest, relax, and share. These nights had various names such as Book night, or Sewing night, or ladies’ night. This is offered for the many who will read these words and have the memories that will transport one and all back to those nights that were always special, and all inclusive. Thank you, Mom.

To bring closure to the family, dear friends, and colleagues, Alla (Mom) asked that we keep her passing simple, her wishes were to have no services or gatherings. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Kainos Independent Living Center in: Redwood City, where Janay (Yellow) has lived for many years.