Fernanda E. Maffei's Obituary
Fernanda Enrica Maffei died on Tuesday, May 11, 2010, at the age of 89 years and 11 months of acute pancreatitis. She was born June 17, 1920, in Tenno, Italy, the oldest child of Zefferino Leo Baroni and Ida Celestina Furletti. She immigrated to the United States on the ship, Presidente Wilson, through Ellis Island in the early 1920`s. In June of 1941 she married John Lawrence Maffei in St Joseph Catholic Church, Alliance, Ohio, of which she is still an active member. This was the second wedding to be held in that new church. To this marriage three children were born, Cheryl Florence, David John and Marcia Ida. She lived most of her life in Alliance. She was a homemaker, housewife and creative seamstress. After her children were raised she went to work for Babcock and Wilcox Research in the dietary department but most of her work days were at Copeland Oaks, a retirement community in Sebring, Ohio. She was one of its first employees. She enjoyed her job immensely, and ended her 25 year career in a Supervisory position retiring in 1991 from there. Fern was well loved by co-workers and residents alike. Fern s love of travel took her to many places in the United States. She also enjoyed foreign travel visiting Israel, Iceland, Italy and other faraway places. She appreciated the outdoors, taking many walks and hikes in different parks and nature settings. She was an avid reader and Scrabble player. She is survived by her daughter Cheryl Eldridge and husband, Franklin, of Lincoln, NE, her son David and wife, Shirley, of Minerva, OH, and her daughter Marcia Maffei and partner, Peter Eberhardt of Eugene, OR, by 6 grandchildren , 6 great-grandchildren and her sister, Daria Baroni Giovanelli, of Louisville, OH. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Delfo Baroni. The family will receive friends at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Friday, May 14, 2010 from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. Fr. Donald L. Feicht, as celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
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