Dahlia L. Pezzi, age 83, passed away on Saturday, October 4, 2014, at Bell Tower Residence, Merrill, surrounded by her loving family and friends, and under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services.
Dahlia was born in Irma, WI on April 10, 1931, the youngest of nine children born to Luigi and Mary (Pasta) Pezzi. She was very proud of her Italian heritage and enjoyed all things Italian. Both her parents were born in Abruzzo, Italy and came to Irma from their first home in Toluca, Illinois. Dahlia was fortunate to be able to travel to Italy in 1987 to visit her ancestral homeland and meet some of her relatives there. She studied and became quite fluent in Italian.
Dahlia lived a very full and happy life. She enjoyed her childhood growing up on the Pezzi farm in Irma, especially helping her older brother Aldo with the chores, and riding her horse “Gypsy”. During the summers, she spent time entertaining and keeping track of her many nieces and nephews visiting from Milwaukee. Dahlia attended grade school at the Schulz Spur Road School, a one-room country schoolhouse.
After graduating from Merrill High School in 1948, she worked at the former Holy Cross Hospital, Merrill, in the office, and actually lived in an apartment on the fourth floor while working there. Dahlia liked to work hard and do her job well, but she also liked to have a good time doing it, and she shared in many fun exploits with her coworkers. Continuing her career in healthcare, she then moved to St. Paul, Minnesota where she worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota for nearly 30 years, retiring as the Director of Claims in 1991. Dahlia then returned to her beloved Merrill and reunited with her many friends and family here. Her retirement years were taken up with many hours of volunteering at Bell Tower Residence. Dahlia was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Merrill. She was a devout Catholic and became an Associate of the Holy Cross Sisters.
Dahlia loved music and singing, and seemingly knew the words to just about any song you could think of. She was a founding member of Blue Cross Blue Shield’s “Schnabernacle Choir”, a whimsical music revue at her workplace. She wrote hilarious original lyrics set to various popular tunes for occasions such as birthdays and retirements. A highlight was performing on stage with the choir at a company annual meeting at The Carlton Theater.
Other hobbies Dahlia enjoyed included cooking, gardening, photography, golfing and traveling. She will be remembered fondly by many for her great sense of humor, and the ever-present twinkle in her dark brown eyes! She was simply the best aunt in the world, and will be truly missed.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Luigi and Mary (Pasta) Pezzi; brothers, Hugo, Oswald ‘Ozzie’, Alfred, Aldo, and Erio; and sister, Joanne ‘Jenny’ Wendorf. Dahlia is survived by sisters, Deana Trinitapoli, of Milwaukee, and Lydia Bauman, of Merrill; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews; and friends too numerous to count.
The family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the entire staff at Bell Tower Residence who provided Dahlia with such wonderful, loving care during her four years there, as well at Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services for their extra T.L.C. near and at the end of her life.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M., on Friday, October 10, 2014, at Holy Cross Chapel at Bell Tower Residence, Merrill. Burial will take place in St. Francis Catholic Cemetery, Merrill. Visitation will begin at 9:30 A.M. Friday at the Holy Cross Chapel. The Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill, is assisting the family with arrangements.
The family requests that donations in her memory be made to Bell Tower Residence, the Holy Cross Sisters, or the Community Food Pantry of Merrill.
Online condolences may be made at www.taylorstinefuneralhome.com