Celia (Vronch) DeMario

HURLEY, Wis. - Celia (Vronch) DeMario, 100, of Ironwood, Mich., died Friday, March 28, 2014, at Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hurley.

Daughter of the late John and Mary (Sentko) Vronch, Celia was born in Ironwood on April 22, 1913, and lived there most of her life, where she attended Central Grade School and Luther L. Wright High School. At age 13, she worked as a maid doing cooking, cleaning, babysitting and helping the elderly at night. During World War II, she went to Rockford, Ill., to work in a defense plant (Elco Tool) where she made small airplane parts.

After returning to Ironwood, she was married to Joseph DeMario on Aug. 31, 1946, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Ironwood by the late Rev. Carl Petranek. Joseph preceded her in death on Jan. 24, 1999. Celia lived in her home in Ironwood until she became a resident of Josephson Nursing Home in 1993, residing there until its closing, then moved to Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hurley. She was a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood.

Celia leaves behind two sisters, Marie Erickson, Ironwood Township, and Veronica Skolasinski, Wakefield, Mich .; and numerous nieces, nephews, and grand and great-grand nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents and husband, she was predeceased by brothers, Andrew, John, Benedict and Isadore Vronch; and a sister, Agnes Hiekkanen.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, April 3, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation in the St. Joseph Family Room at 10 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Robb Jurkovich, celebrant.

Rite of Committal and interment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood, later this spring.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc., Ironwood, where condolences may be offered online at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.

Many thanks to all of Celia's nieces, nephews, grand and great-grand nieces and nephews for their many visits, cards and letters over the years. Thanks also to all past and present people who work in the nursing homes for their kindness with Celia and who got to know her quick wit and humor, and laughed along with her.