Adelina DeSantis

Adelina DeSantis passed away on May 30, 2013 at St. John Macomb Hospital at the age of 93. She was born on November 24, 1919 in Pacentro, Italy; daughter of Raffaele and Teresa (nee Marchionda) Rubino. She moved to the United States in 1934 with her family. During World War II she did her part by working at Packard Motor Company. She met her husband in Pennsylvania while visiting relatives. It was love at first sight. Adelina married Giovanni DeSantis on April 6, 1940 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Detroit. They enjoyed 64 wonderful years together until his death in 2004. Adelina was a fashion designer. She could make everything from sight not needing a pattern. She made all types of clothing for her family including her daughters' wedding dresses. She could knit and crochete even in her sleep. Her family said that she had "Hands of Gold" when it came to designing clothes, sewing, knitting, crocheting, and cooking. Mrs. DeSantis was always on the go and would always be active doing something. She cooked, canned, and gardened. People remember her walking down Lakeshore Drive every morning at the same time. She would walk four to six miles, everyday, until her age forced her to "cut back" to three miles. She loved her winter condo in Pompano Beach, Florida. She was loved by her neighbors as she was always helping them when needed or bringing them food as a kind gesture. She loved walking on the sands of Pompano Beach. She had Friday night pizza parties for her family and would make homemade pizza from scratch. Her cooking was amazing. She taught cooking class with her daughter, Dona. Dona used the food processor, and she used her hands saying, "I don't need 'thatta' machine. I've got my hands." She had very high expectations for her children and grandchildren. She would let them know when they were not doing their best because she only wanted the best for them. Her hearing was phenomenal. She could hear conversations from the other side of her house. She loved baby-sitting her grandchildren and others as she would walk to Assumption Greek Church to baby-sit children there. She was predeceased by her parents, husband John, and sister Marianna DiCicco. She leaves behind her three loving daughters Yvonne Martilotti (Frank), Dona DeSantis Reynolds, and Teresa DeSantis (Roger Steyer). She was proud of her eight grandchildren Frank (Colette) Martilotti, Lisa (Geoff) Centner, Domenic Martilotti, D.J. Reynolds, Leah (Kirk) Chewning, Anne Marie (Andy) Scarfone, Bradley VanSickle, and Jonathan VanSickle. She adored her four great-grandchildren Andrew and Adele Centner, Joseph Domenic Martilotti, and Ella Chewning. She is survived by her sister Josephine Avolio. Visitation will be held on Sunday and Monday from 3:00 pm until 9:00 pm at A.H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack Ave., at Vernier Rd., Grosse Pointe Woods. A scripture service will be held on Monday at 7:00 pm. Mrs. DeSantis will lie instate on Tuesday from 9:30 am until the time of the Mass of the Resurrection at 10:00 am at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, 157 Lakeshore Drive, Grosse Pointe Farms. Monsignor Halfpenny will officiate. She will be entombed at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township.

Funeral Home:

A. H. Peters Funeral Home of Grosse Pointe

20705 Mack Avenue

Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

US 48236