Submitted by: Dan Rich

Ida R. DeBlase

Jan. 20, 1920 - Feb. 3, 2005

South Bend Tribune 2/6/2005

Ida R. DeBlase, 85, residing on Dugdale Drive, South Bend, Ind., passed away at 3:45 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, in Holy Cross Care and Rehabilitation Center. She was born Jan. 20, 1920, in Calabria, Italy, as the daughter of Carlo and Marie (Stalteri) Macri, and had lived most of her life in South Bend.

On April 26, 1941, in South Bend, as Ida Macri, she married Steve DeBlase. They enjoyed 51 years of marriage until his passing on Dec. 11, 1992. She was also preceded in death by her son, Anthony Frank DeBlase in July 2000; a sister, Vera Agostino; and three brothers, Jimmy, Paul, and John Macri. Mrs. DeBlase is survived by her two daughters, Mary Margaret (Baker) Gee and Stephanie Lynn DeBlase, both of South Bend; two grandchildren, Wayne (Shannon) DeBlase of Edwardsburg, Mich., and Ian (Trina) Hurst of South Bend; and two great-granddaughters, Isabella Rose DeBlase and Sophia Elizabeth DeBlase. She is also survived by a brother, Joseph (Jackie) Macri of Indianapolis, Ind.

Mrs. DeBlase was a member of the Cathedral of St. Matthew, and the Rosary Society of the church. She retired from the Housekeeping Dept. at Copshaholm at the Oliver Estate.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, in the Cathedral of St. Matthew, 1701 Miami St., South Bend. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7, in the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 South Michigan St., where a Parish Rosary will be recited at 4 p.m. in the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Ida R. DeBlase may be offered to Muscular Dystrophy Association, c/o First National Bank, 3901 West 86th St., Suite 121, Indianapolis, IN 46268.