LOUISE (IANNARELLI) DIGIACOMO     1916-2018     Wooster
 
She never thought she would live to be 100. She did. She said that if she made it to 100 she wanted a big party with a band so she could dance. She did. And on her 101 birthday, she danced. Her love for music and dancing started very early in her life. Her parents Vincenzo Iannarelli and Loreta Iannarelli both immigrated to the United states from Collepietro, Italy in the early 1900 ™s. Music was a part of their lives. Louise was born to them on May 23, 1916 in Wooster. As she started her education at Pittsburg Ave. School.   She did not speak English. When St. Mary ™s opened its new school, Louise transferred to join the choir, to sing.  As a sophomore at Wooster High School she joined an Italian dance group.   In 1932, the group danced for the First Lady, Mrs. Hoover. Louise was very proud of that.  In high school and after, graduating in 1934, she and her friends would go anywhere in Ohio to listen to Big Bands and to Dance. While in that dance group she got to know Michael DiGiacomo who was also a dancer. They were married on April 29, 1937. He died on Oct.23, 1962. She remained the last of her generation of family members and the last of the dance troop to live. Louise passed on March 8, 2018
Louise had several jobs before becoming a full time homemaker. She worked as a secretary for the first welfare agency in Wooster. Before and after her marriage she spent weekends helping her cousins at Varassi ™s Grocery Store. While her brother Domenic was in WWII, she ran his grocery store. When he returned from the war, she helped him at his tavern, Libby ™s Inn.  After her husband ™s death she worked out of her home as a seamstress, and spent spare time volunteering and teaching crochet.
Her Roman Catholic faith was very important to her.  When she was young, she learned to say the rosary. For the rest of her life she said it every day. On her last day she participated in saying the rosary.  Louise belonged to Mission Circle 10 and The Catholic Ladies of Columbia. For several years she crocheted cross bookmarkers for First communicants and confirmation participants for St. Mary Church. Sometimes they weren ™t always crocheted perfectly because she was losing her eyesight, but she would say, œOnly God is Perfect . She so enjoyed doing that.
 She LOVED baking and shared her knowledge and baked goods with many people. One of her greatest joys was to make Italian biscotti and pizzelles. Until several months ago there was always a stash of pizzelles on hand, in case anyone would stop in. Louise perfected a chocolate pizzelle recipe, thin crisp and chocolatety!  Perfect. Not bad for 101!
Louise ™s mind was sharp up until the end. She read the Daily Record cover to cover every day and remembered almost everything about the Italian community and could recall it when asked. Ann Gasbarre ™s column was her favorite.
She is survived by her son, Michael DiGiacomo, (Patricia), and daughter, Mary Lou Kerr (Drew).  Grandchildren: Lisa DiGiacomo, Erin DiGiacomo, Mike DiGiacomo, Anthony Kerr (Jenifer) and Ryan Kerr (Sarah). Great-grandchildren: Tre Rine, Andre Federico, Lilia Federico, Alex Kerr, and Evelyn Kerr. A nephew Tom Iannarelli and niece Linda Clark, who lived with her when they were young, are close family members.   Other survivors include nieces and nephews, their children and grand-children.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, brother,  Angelo, wife Fannie, brother Dominic, wife Libby, brothers-in-law Peter, Jim, Frank and Joe and their wives, Olivia, Carmella, Mary and Geraldine. Sisters-in-law:  Nancy Charles, Jennie Medley, and Annie DiNino, and husbands Coston, Elmer and Dan, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at St. Mary ™s Church, 527 Beall Ave., Wooster, on Friday, March 16, 2018 at 11:00 AM   with Fr. Steve Moran officiating           Friends and Family will be received by the family one hour before the funeral mass in the Church.
In lieu of Flowers the family requests that contributions be made to St. Mary School 527 Beall Ave. Wooster, Oh. 44691 or Life Care Hospice, 1900 Akron road, Wooster, Oh. 44691.
The family would like to thank Life Care Hospice, especially the green and blue team and all the wonderful volunteers that spent time with mom, especially Marie Rutter, Robbie Griffith and Gwen Collian.  Her spiritual warriors, Fr. Steve from St. Mary, Kirk from West View and Charlotte from Hospice. All of you are AMAZING! Thank you so very much to the staff of Wayne County Care Center and the staff of West view Healthy Living Center for their great care, we are so grateful for all your help.
McIntire, Bradham & Sleek Funeral Home, 216 E. Larwill St., Wooster are handling arrangements and online condolences can be sent to www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Memorial Contributions
St. Mary School 527 Beall Ave. Wooster, Oh. 44691 or Life Care Hospice, 1900 Akron road, Wooster, Oh. 44691

Service
Friday, March 16, 2018 at 11:00AM at St. Mary Catholic Church

Visitation
One Hour propr to the service on Friday at the church