Viola M. Baron

Viola Mainente Baron passed away on January 22, 2011, in Charlotte, NC. Viola was born to Maria Naletto and Adrian Mainente on June 24, 1914 in Chicago, IL. In 1939 she married Tulio Baron. In 1952 they bought and farmed a large farm in Hartford, MI. and ten years later moved to Stevensville. In 1992 Viola and Tulio made their home in Florida and later in North Carolina. Viola’s early days of working at S.S. Kresge in Chicago and then on the Hartford farm demonstrated her strong work ethic and that she was a careful manager of family finances. Her Italian heritage was kept alive with her speaking Italian, visits to Italy, lifetime connections with Italian relatives and friends, and her Italian cooking. Viola was a proud member and last survivor of the Gay Brunettes, a group of 12 Italian women friends from Chicago who loved to have a good time and nurture one another in life. As a proud American, Viola was a member of the American Legion. She kept informed of national issues and was an avid reader of the daily newspaper. Viola and Tulio enjoyed square dancing and became longtime participants in the Village Squares. They loved to travel and made many trips to Salt Lake City and surrounding areas as well as a trip of a lifetime to Guam and other Pacific Islands. Viola is preceded in death by her parents, husband Tulio, brother Florindo, sisters Ida Spiller, Emma Granato and Elena Zapparoni. Two children survive Viola: Bruce (Rosemary), Salt Lake City and Kathleen, Charlotte. Additionally she is survived by three grandchildren: Kathryn Hunter (Robert), Boise, ID, Mary Ellen Nackos (Milo), Seattle, WA, and Peter Baron of Stuttgart, Germany, and three great grandchildren. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Joseph Catholic Church, 211 Church Street, in St. Joseph, with Fr. Jim Morris officiating. Burial will follow at Lincoln Township Cemetery in Stevensville. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Viola may be made to St. Joseph Church, 211 Church Street, St. Joseph, MI. They Dey-Florin Funeral Home in St. Joseph has been entrusted with the local arrangements. Messages of condolence may be sent to www.florin.net.

Tributes

Viola M. Baron

June 24, 1914 - January 22, 2011