Submitted by: Dan Rich

Leda Elda DiFiori

May 18, 1917 - July 26, 2005

South Bend Tribune 7/28/2005

Leda Elda DiFiori, 88, of Dugdale Drive, South Bend, passed away after an extended illness at 2:20 a.m. on Tuesday, July 26, in Holy Cross Care and Rehabilitation Center, South Bend.

Leda was born on May 18, 1917, in Mishawaka, to Albino Joseph and Leah Marie (Lombardini) Capelli. She was preceded in death by her parents, Albino and Leah; three sisters, Lydia Capelli Dentino, Ada Capelli and Vera Capelli Hammes; and by a brother, Leo Capelli.

On Nov. 29, 1941, in St. Bavo Catholic Church, Mishawaka, as the former Leda Capelli, she married Mario Phillip DiFiori, who preceded her in death on Dec. 25, 1981. Leda is survived by her daughter, Marlene DiFiori (Kenneth) Locke of Maryland Heights, MO; a granddaughter, Lauren Marlene Locke of Ventura, CA; a nephew, Richard (Mary Ann) Dentino of South Bend; and by a brother-in-law, Charles Hammes of Mishawaka.

Leda worked at Uniroyal for 10 years and was a member of the factory's 1945 Ball-Band traveling softball team. She was a playground supervisor at St. Bavo Catholic School for 27 years, where she once taught a cooking class for eighth grade girls. A favorite thing in her life was cooking. Leda was a wonderful cook, and she rarely visited friends without bringing something homemade from her kitchen. She was a lifetime member of VFW Post 360 Auxiliary, a member of St. Bavo mixed choir and resurrection choir, and a member and secretary of DeAmicis Auxiliary. She was active in Battell Center Sewing Group, was a member of the former St. Bavo Sodality, Eagles Auxiliary No. 2083, the Harvest House, the Busy Widows Club, the Theresians and the Mishawaka High School Alumni Association.

Graveside services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, July 29, at Fairview Cemetery, with Rev. Barry England officiating. Hahn Funeral Home, 505 W. 8th Street, Mishawaka, is handling the arrangements.

Contributions in memory of Leda may be made to the Holy Cross Care and Rehabilitation Center, 17475 Dugdale Drive, South Bend, IN 46635-1545.