Submitted by: Dan Rich
May 18, 1894 - Dec. 10, 1996
South Bend Tribune 12/12/1996
SOUTH BEND - Margherita C. Sorocco Ranieri, 102, of North Adams Street, died Tuesday, Dec. 10, in St. Joseph's Medical Center, South Bend, Ind. Margherita was born on May 18, 1894, in Naples, Italy. She married Dominick Sorocco in New York City in 1916. Mr. Sorocco preceded her in death.
She was loved and will be missed by her seven children, Lucy Mattei VanOverwaele of South Bend, Joseph (Joe) Sorocco of South Bend, Mary Hojara of South Bend, Anthony (Tony) Sorocco of Mishawaka, Angeline (Angie) Nowaczewski of South Bend, William (Bill) Sorocco of Mishawaka, and Betty Lou DeRoo of South Bend; and by a sister, Margaret Giantamaso of South Bend.
Two of her children, Helen Troutner and Michael Sorocco, also preceded her in death.
She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.
Margherita was named ''Michiana Mother of the Year'' by the South Bend Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in 1987, when she was 93. She had worked at St. Joseph's Medical Center, the University of Notre Dame, at Studebaker's, and at the LaSalle Hotel. Margherita's second husband, Natals Ranieri also preceded her in death.
Funeral mass will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 13, in Holy Cross Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today in McGann Funeral Home, 21275 W. Cleveland Road, where the rosary will be recited at 4:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, the Gebalt School for Boys, or to the American Cancer Society.
Editor: Her first husband Dominick Sorocco died 6-18-1939 while living at 336 N. St. Peter Street in South Bend. Her second husband Natalie Ranieri died 3-2-1966 while living at 1329 N. Adams Street in South Bend.