Ida DiValentin - Obituary

da Marie DiValentin, 94, of Annapolis, passed away peacefully on March 9, 2015 at the Heritage Harbour Health and Rehabilitation Center. Born on December 29, 1920 in San Jose, CA, Ida moved with her parents to the Washington, DC area in 1932. In 1938, she began working as an elevator operator at the National Press Building in Washington where, for the next two years, she encountered many dignitaries. Her favorite was First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt with whom Ida would chat regularly on the ride to Mrs. Roosevelt’s many functions. Ida changed careers in 1940 when she married Anthony “Tony” DiValentin and devoted herself full-time to supporting and providing a comfortable home for her husband and their three children. In the 1950s, the DiValentins relocated to Raleigh, NC where Ida was actively involved as the secretary for the Cathedral Latin Elementary and High School PTA, and in the church’s altar society, until the family relocated to Virginia in 1963. In 1980, after moving to Atlantic City, NJ, Ida went to work for Spencer Gifts, where she began as a packer and then proudly accepted a promotion to sorter until 1988 when she decided to enjoy retired life. Ida enjoyed cooking Italian dishes, playing bingo, watching cooking shows and Lawrence Welk. She especially loved dancing with her beloved husband. Her passion was her family and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ida was preceded in death by her husband, Tony, who died in 1977. She is survived by two sons, Col. (Ret.) Anthony (Kathleen) DiValentin of Knoxville, TN and Dr. Robert (Marybeth) DiValentin of Vienna, VA; her daughter, Marie (Darian) Pringle of West River, MD; five grandchildren, Anthony DiValentin, Kristin Ennis, Laurin Deese, Catherine Daniels and Michael DiValentin; and 13 great-grandchildren. Friends may call from 10am until a Memorial Mass will be offered at 11am on Thursday, March 12 at St. Mark Catholic Church, 9970 Vale Road, Vienna, VA. Inurnment will follow at Fairfax Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Anne Arundel Medical Center, 2001 Medical Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401 or The Healing NET Foundation, 817 3rd Ave. N #306, Nashville, TN 37201 at www.thehealingnet.org. An online guestbook is available by visiting the link on this page.