Ida was born September 25, 1930, in Vacri, Italy (a region of Abruzzo), in a house her father built. World War II broke out in Italy when she was about 13. She saw and experienced things a 13-year-old should never witness. She had always told stories of her family running and trying to survive the atrocities of the war. To this day many friends of that time still remain close friends. After the war ended, she and her mother immigrated to America and reunited with her father, who had been in the United States since she was a very young child. At 17, she and her mother moved into the house that her dad had acquired in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania. Her dad, Giustino "Steve" and Henry DeRanzo were good friends and lived down the street. When her family went to visit the DeRanzo's for the first time, she was introduced to their 3 sons and was jokingly told to pick one for her husband. Everyone laughed and she was embarrassed, but she was attracted to Tony. After a year or so of courtship, they married on April 29th, 1950. Jerry was born in 1951 and Steve in 1958.
In 1961, the family moved to Detroit, Michigan. During the time they lived there, Ida became a cosmetologist and worked at a local hair salon. Soon after, she and her partner, Kay, opened their own salon. In 1969, the family moved to Sterling Heights. After closing their business in 1992, Ida worked at other salons in Southfield and Sterling Heights until the age of 82.
She started showing signs of dementia and after having a stroke in 2016, Ida was admitted to St. Anthony Nursing Home. A year later her husband Tony joined her, sharing the same room.
Ida loved to cook and was the consummate Italian chef. Her meatballs are legendary, and she spent time teaching her grandchildren Fran and Gabe how to make the "Perfect" meatballs and pizzelles. Her family was her universe. She lived for her family and everyone that knew her would agree.
Ida is predeceased by her husband Tony, mother Domenica, father Giustino, sisters Angela and Elsa, sisters-in-law Hildie and Terry, brothers-in-law Caesar, Pompeo and Bill, and grandson Jordan.
She is survived by her sons Jerry (Patty) and Steve (Rene); brother-in-law Dominic (Ruthanne); grandchildren Gabe, Terry (Kevin), Francesca (Isabelle), Justin (Amber) Spencer and Victoria; great-grandchildren Maci, Ana, Benito, Henry, Charlie, Evalyn, and Alessandra; and several nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held Tuesday, December 6, 2022 from 4-8 PM at Resurrection Funeral Home, 40800 Hayes Road, Clinton Township, MI 48038. A brief visitation will follow Wednesday, December 7, 2022 at 10 AM, until time of funeral service at 11 AM, also at Resurrection Funeral Home. Final resting place, Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township, MI next to her husband, Tony.
Memories and condolences may be shared at www.resurrectionfuneralhome.com for the DeRanzo family.
