IRMA E. (MARTINUZZI) ZANECCHIA

Irma E. (Martinuzzi) Zanecchia 89, of 100 E. Ocean View Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia, passed away at home on July 25, 2011 with her loving children caring for her by her side. Irma was born on August 27, 1921 to Giuseppe and Maria Martinuzzo in Maron di Brugnera, Pordenone, Italy. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Lt. Col. Armando L. Zanecchia (USA Ret.). Mrs. Zanecchia is survived by her three children: Yvonne E. Chadwick of Bridgewater, Massachusetts; Armando L. Zanecchia of Lugano, Switzerland; and Thomas E. Zanecchia of Cherry Hills Village, Colorado. She was a loving mother-in-law to Everett Chadwick, Charlotte Zanecchia and Deborah Zanecchia; proud Grandmother to eight grandchildren; and special Nonna to seven great grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters, Adelina DeSano of Barrington, and Rina Martinuzzi of North Providence - and her very devoted friend, Anthony Wells of Chesapeake, Virginia. Mrs. Zanecchia studied art at Old Dominion University with the late A.B. Jackson and at the Cultural Art Center of Yokohama, Japan. She was a well-known and award-winning ceramics artist, having exhibited her unique pieces in clay as a resident artist at the D'Art Center of Norfolk and other Tidewater Virginia galleries during the past 50 years. When describing her work, Irma said, "When you own a piece of my work, you own a piece of my soul." Irma loved life, new adventures, and travel - particularly to her native Italy. Her family lived in the US, Canada, Okinawa, Japan, and Italy before relocating to Norfolk in 1963. After the death of her husband in 2002, Mrs. Zanecchia moved to her residence at Nansemond on the Bay where she loved to view the Chesapeake Bay. Mrs. Zanecchia was a faithful parishioner of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Norfolk, Virginia, a member of the Catholic Daughters of America 1212 Court Norfolk, and the wife of a past Grand Knight of Father Kealey Council 3548. Her children wish to express their deep appreciation to her caregivers Azieb-Gobeze (her Guardian Angel) and Kim, Bonnie, Ella and Leanne of Bon Secours Hospice. Funeral from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory, 1278 Park Avenue, Cranston on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. in St. Mary's Church, 1525 Cranston Street, Cranston. Entombment will be in Our Risen Christ Garden Mausoleum in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. VISITING HOURS Friday 4-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 154 W. Government Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23503.The American Heart Association, 1 State Street, Suite 200, Providence, RI 02908, or Bon Secours Hospice, 150 Kingsley Lane, Norfolk, VA 23505.

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