Ida M. Cetola

She was the youngest of 7 kids: Theodore (Tony), Michael, Orlando (Cupie), Henry, Gemma (Emma), and Adolf. Their father, Pellegrino (William) passed away at a young age in the 1930’s when Ida was around the age of 10, and was primarily raised by a single mother, Maria Carrara. One of her favorite childhood memories was shopping with her older brother at Arthur’s every Saturday.

Ida is survived by her three nephews Michael (Mike) Licamele, William (Bill) Licamele, and Hank Cetola, and two nieces Barbara (Cetola) Thurber and Michelle (Cetola) Tank, and a plethora of great- and great-great- nieces and nephews. She was like a second mother or grandmother to many.

Ida lived in the Spring Meadows community since 2010, and was a lifelong resident of Bridgeport, CT.

Unlike many women in her time, Ida had a forty-year career. She attended Butler Business School and began her career at Hunter and Havens Steel and Aluminum as a Billing Clerk. She ultimately rose to the position of Comptroller of the company, in an age when there were few women in the field and nearly none at that level. She practically ran the company!

She used to come to Rehoboth Beach, DE with Bill’s family over the summer for nearly a decade, many times with Aunt Olga (her brothers wife’s sister, and her best friend) the two would ask every day what was on the menu for the daily happy hour special!

She was optimistic. Never gossiped. Wanted everyone to get along. She loved waffles and strawberries and whipped cream from Chip’s restaurant. Her hobbies included knitting, making Christmas ornaments for family and to donate, playing cards with friends, and cooking. Her favorite sports team was the UCONN Women’s Basketball team. Ida volunteered at St. Joe’s Manor for forty years in the recreation department. Upon retirement, Ida traveled to Italy, Spain, London, Paris, Portugal, Alaska, and Ireland (her favorite!).

The hardest parts are no longer being able to ask that generation about our family history, and that many will not be able to go to CT for a funeral to celebrate her together with family due to the pandemic.

There will be a private burial. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in her name to St. Stephen’s Roman Catholic Church, 6948 Main Street, Trumbull, CT 06611 (http://www.ststephentc.org/; 203-268-6217).