Obituary: Clara A. "Clare" Di Loreto - Class of 1943

MADISON - Clara A. "Clare" Di Loreto, a lifelong resident of Madison, passed away at home on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, two days after her 89th birthday. She was born Chiara Di Loreto on Nov. 27, 1925, the youngest of five children. Her parents, Consiglio Di Loreto and Antonietta Campitelli Di Loreto, had emigrated to Madison from the Abruzzo region of Italy in the first decade of the 20th century. Clare was immensely proud of her heritage. Clare never married but was a big sister or second mother to her many nieces and nephews. She is survived, most immediately, by her loving caretaker and niece, Mary Tortorice; her great-nephew, Brian Tortorice; and her great-great-niece, Savannah Tortorice; along with many other nieces and nephews and their families whom mourn her death and will miss her vibrant personality, her naughty sense of humor, her wonderful stories, and the great interest she took in her family. Clare was preceded in death by her parents; and four siblings, Assunta (Sue) Saccomando of Chicago, Maria Regina (Mary) Tortorice of Madison, Stefano (Steve) Di Loreto of Menasha, and Donato (Dan) of Madison. Clare was what was called, in her day, a career girl. She graduated from Madison Central High School in 1943, received training as a secretary, and spent the next 45 years in that profession. She joined CUNA Mutual Insurance on May 1, 1948, transferring from CUNA Credit Union when her friends at CUNA Mutual told her the parties were better. Clare retired from the organization on May 1, 1988, proud of her 40 years of service to the day. Clare lived a full life, traveling widely in the United States and abroad. She was an excellent league bowler and a fiercely competitive card player. She and a number of her single friends formed a social club called the "Unclaimed Treasures" and had great fun together for many years. Family, friends, her Catholic faith, Chinese food, and pasta were Clare's great passions and enthusiasms. Even in her old age she could polish off a big plate of spaghetti, preferably with red sauce and homemade meatballs or sausage. She became an excellent cook in her retirement; earlier in life she was too busy to spend time in the kitchen. Clare was a member of St. Joseph Parish and (later) of St. Dennis Parish, where she was a member of the Altar Society and a lector at Sunday Masses. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. DENNIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 505 Dempsey Road, Madison, at noon, on Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, with Father Randy Timmerman presiding. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery. A visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday. Memorials may be made to St. Dennis Catholic Church.  

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on December 3, 2014. Submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968).