Viola Mae Pennetti

Viola Mae (Wegner) Pennetti, was born on May 26, 1922, in her parents home at 4015 W 37th Ave., just a few blocks from the old Elitch's. She was the only child of Katie and Walt Wegner. She attended Edison Grade School, Skinner Junior High and graduated from North Denver High School in 1940. She studied music, was a fine accordionist, an accomplished oil painter, seamstress, and in many types of needlework. She became a bookkeeper at Meadow Gold Dairy. During this time she met Anthony Pennetti, an accordion teacher from NYC, who had come from Avellino, Italy about 10 years prior. He transferred from NYC to Denver to teach at the Accordion School where Viola studied and taught. They fell in love and were married in 1944. In the early 50's they opened their own accordion school and music publishing company which they worked together until their retirement in the late 70's. They celebrated 53 years of marriage before Anthony's death in 1997.

Viola was a member of St. Michael and all Angels Parish for almost 50 years. She was active in many groups of the church; St Margaret's, St. Claire's, the Rummage Sale Team, and the Needlework Guild of America (NGA) which she had joined in 1956, as well as the Empire Club of Denver. She sewed and crocheted tirelessly for the needy through the NGA creating hundreds of items for their charity outreach groups for over fifty years. For over 20 years she participated in the Salvation Army's Doll Tea Fundraiser making beautiful outfits for the dolls.

In 2008 she moved from her home in northwest Denver to the Englewood Meridian Retirement community where she became active in their sewing club, outing group, and choir until December 2017. January 1st she moved to Brookdale Denver Assisted Living facility where she remained until her death, January 27, 2018.

She is survived by her son Michael Pennetti and his wife Judy, daughter Katherine Biamonte and her husband Alex, four grandchildren; Christina Biamonte, Matthew Pennetti, Gina Biamonte Peterson and Emily Pennetti, and one great-grandson, Braxton Pennetti (who was born on May 26, Viola's 95th birthday).