Obituary for Ida Marie Margolfo (Coppa)
Ida Marie (Coppa) Margolfo, Italian through-and-through, never shied away from sharing her sass and candor for almost 102 years on this earth, cultivating memorable experiences, friendships and laughter wherever she went. Ida was born on June 24, 1919 in Hartford, CT to Salvatore Coppa and Maria (Panisa) Coppa. She resided in West Harford for the last 6 decades, most recently at St. Mary Home. She passed on April 3.
Ida was a communicant of St. Brigid Church in West Hartford and a member of the Fratellanza Women’s Social Club in New Britain and the Luna Social Club of Hartford/West Hartford. Her family and friends imagine that Ida must have been a handful during her 4 decades working at Arrow-Hart & Hegeman in Hartford.
Ida was known for opening her home in Elmwood to family, friends and neighbors, no matter the day or time. Over the holidays, you’d often find her at her Pizzelle press, stocking her back porch with hundreds of cookies for anyone who visited, putting out platters of prosciutto and salami, and generously filling glasses and plates with “just a bit more.”“Mangia! Drink Up!”, she’d say. Socializing was in her DNA, as was luck, as she enjoyed social functions, family gatherings, playing cards and bingo, and trips to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. And you’d always find a jigsaw puzzle in the works when visiting her home.
Besides her parents, she is pre-deceased by her husband G. James (“Jimmy”) Margolfo, whom she celebrated more than 71 years of marriage before he passed in 2009 at the age of 94. Her sister Josephine (“Jo”) Libera passed in 2015 four days shy of her 103rd birthday and brother Guido (“Guy”) Coppa passed at the age of 94 in 2008. Her nephew, Robert (“Bobby”) Coppa passed in January 2020.
The “Noni” of this five generation-strong family, Ida is survived by her only son and daughter-in-law, Paul (“Paulie”) and Janice Margolfo of Enfield. “Noni” is also survived by her three grandchildren, Kevin and his wife Patricia Margolfo of Enfield, Ken Margolfo of Cromwell, and Paula Tremblay and her husband Andrew of Tolland; her three great-grandchildren, Danielle Helmer and her husband Perry, Nicholas Margolfo and Emma Tremblay; two great-great-grandchildren, Collin and Grant Helmer; and her dear nephew, Edward (“Eddie”) Coppa. Ida would also want us to acknowledge her wonderful neighbors and friends.
The Margolfo family would like to express its deep appreciation to St. Mary Home of West Hartford, especially to the “staff of East-1” for the last decade of kindness, concern, laughs and loving care given to Ida. A COVID-19 survivor at the age of 100, the care given to Ida during her illness brought her through miraculously to a healthy recovery, complete with restored sass and candor withher caregivers, family and friends.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, April 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Sheehan-Hilborn-Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford, followed by a mass at 11:00 a.m. at St. Brigid Church, 1088 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Ida to Special Olympics Connecticut, 2666 State Street, Unit 1, Hamden CT 06517. Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com
Ida was a communicant of St. Brigid Church in West Hartford and a member of the Fratellanza Women’s Social Club in New Britain and the Luna Social Club of Hartford/West Hartford. Her family and friends imagine that Ida must have been a handful during her 4 decades working at Arrow-Hart & Hegeman in Hartford.
Ida was known for opening her home in Elmwood to family, friends and neighbors, no matter the day or time. Over the holidays, you’d often find her at her Pizzelle press, stocking her back porch with hundreds of cookies for anyone who visited, putting out platters of prosciutto and salami, and generously filling glasses and plates with “just a bit more.”“Mangia! Drink Up!”, she’d say. Socializing was in her DNA, as was luck, as she enjoyed social functions, family gatherings, playing cards and bingo, and trips to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. And you’d always find a jigsaw puzzle in the works when visiting her home.
Besides her parents, she is pre-deceased by her husband G. James (“Jimmy”) Margolfo, whom she celebrated more than 71 years of marriage before he passed in 2009 at the age of 94. Her sister Josephine (“Jo”) Libera passed in 2015 four days shy of her 103rd birthday and brother Guido (“Guy”) Coppa passed at the age of 94 in 2008. Her nephew, Robert (“Bobby”) Coppa passed in January 2020.
The “Noni” of this five generation-strong family, Ida is survived by her only son and daughter-in-law, Paul (“Paulie”) and Janice Margolfo of Enfield. “Noni” is also survived by her three grandchildren, Kevin and his wife Patricia Margolfo of Enfield, Ken Margolfo of Cromwell, and Paula Tremblay and her husband Andrew of Tolland; her three great-grandchildren, Danielle Helmer and her husband Perry, Nicholas Margolfo and Emma Tremblay; two great-great-grandchildren, Collin and Grant Helmer; and her dear nephew, Edward (“Eddie”) Coppa. Ida would also want us to acknowledge her wonderful neighbors and friends.
The Margolfo family would like to express its deep appreciation to St. Mary Home of West Hartford, especially to the “staff of East-1” for the last decade of kindness, concern, laughs and loving care given to Ida. A COVID-19 survivor at the age of 100, the care given to Ida during her illness brought her through miraculously to a healthy recovery, complete with restored sass and candor withher caregivers, family and friends.
Calling hours will be held on Friday, April 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Sheehan-Hilborn-Breen Funeral Home, 1084 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford, followed by a mass at 11:00 a.m. at St. Brigid Church, 1088 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Ida to Special Olympics Connecticut, 2666 State Street, Unit 1, Hamden CT 06517. Online condolences may be made at www.SheehanHilbornBreen.com