Anthony (Tony) DeRanzo, aged 93 of Sterling Heights, Michigan passed away on April 13th. Anthony was born in Pescara, Italy to Henry and Ester DeRanzo on January 15th, 1927. They soon immigrated to the USA in 1930, eventually settling in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania. As most Italians, he was raised a strong Catholic. Their family endured many hardships during the Great Depression. He went to school in Birdsboro and later started working for Doehler Jarvis Die Casting and Brown Trailer in Pottstown and Reading, Pennsylvania.
He was drafted near the end of World War II into the US Army and served as part of the occupation of Italy in Trieste. After his service to his country, he returned to Birdsboro and resumed work at Doehler Jarvis. His wife Ida Masciulli, emigrated, from Italy in 1947 and after being introduced shortly after were engaged and married on April 29th, 1950. They soon started a family and when work opportunities were scarce, he moved to Detroit in 1960 and later brought his family there in 1961. He worked as a cement contractor and then later at GM (Fisher Body) in Ypsilanti for 6 years. He then started work in outdoor construction helping to develop businesses and suburbs in the Metro Detroit area for 25 plus years. After retirement he did handyman construction jobs and worked for several hardware stores locally. He loved working around the house gardening and upgrading his property. He was a lifetime collector of stamps, envelopes and mostly post cards.
Anthony is preceded in death by his parents Henry and Ester, his sister Terry Noll (Bill) and brother Pompeo (Hildegard). Anthony is survived by his wife Ida his sons Jerry (Patricia), Steve (Rene), brother Dominic (Ruth Ann) and 6 grandchildren Gabriel, Terry (Kevin), Francesca, Justin, Spencer, and Jordan. Also 4 great grandchildren Maci, Anna, Benito and Henry.
Anthony succumbed to complications of the Covid 19 Coronavirus. Funeral arrangements are restricted due to the current virus epidemic. A celebration of life memorial will be planned at, a later date.
