Clara T. Corso

Throughout her life, Clara was known as a brave and fashionable woman. Born in 1931, to photographer Vittorio Discenza and homemaker Antonietta Niro in the small town of Campobasso, Italy, Clara had an adventurous and kind spirit. She is preceded in death by her parents and siblings Aldo, Franco, and Rina.

As a teenager, she and sister Flora moved with their father to Eritrea in northeastern Africa where he was working. They stayed for a few years in Eritrea until civil unrest erupted and they were forced to evacuate back to Italy. At 24, she met and married Michele (Uncle Mike) Corso, her husband of 27 years. In the 1950s, Michele emigrated to the United States to establish the family in Detroit, Michigan. Clara joined him in 1959. She and Michele joined a growing number of Italian emigres that flocked to Detroit in the 50s and 60s to work in the auto industry and other trades. Although she lived the remainder of her life in America, Clara proudly retained her Italian citizenship, frequently returning to Italy to visit extended family in Campobasso and Pavia.

In 1969, the couple decided to put their life savings into a home in Dearborn Heights where Clara lived independently until her passing.

Clara was a role model and second parent to her nieces Anne, Linda & Lisa, & nephew Joe. In the family, her wisdom, excellent cooking, and fabulous wardrobe were renowned. For her great-nieces and nephews, she radiated good sense and hospitality, though she was quite sassy. Zia frequently shared her recipes and always knew how to properly fill a plate with delicious homemade Italian cuisine. Her sense of humor was sometimes dry, but her veal never was. The only thing Zia could not do was make a bad meal.

Clara lost her dear husband Michele to cancer in 1982. In 1986, she met Dominic, a tool and die craftsman, with whom she shared many happy years of companionship until he passed in 1997. His nephew, David, became her closest family outside her many nieces and nephews. Clara is survived by her great nieces and nephew in the U.S., Cathy, Jackie, Kelly, Kim and Mickey.

Clara also is survived by her sister Flora in Italy, along with nieces & nephews: Roberta, Clara, Anna, Giuseppe, Antonio, Francesco, Anna, and Lucia, and many great nieces and nephews as well.

A Funeral Service will take place at 12:00 pm on Monday, December 30, 2024, at the Harry J. Will Funeral Home, 37000 Six Mile Road, Livonia, Michigan 48152. Clara's family will receive visitors at the funeral home on Monday from 9:30 am until the time of service at 12:00 pm. Clara will be laid to rest at St. Hedwig Catholic Cemetery in Dearborn Heights on Tuesday, December 31, 2024.