The Mountain-Ear
The voice of the Peak to Peak
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| Margaret Iorio, December 1917-October 2009 |
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| Written by administrator | |
| Wednesday, 14 October 2009 | |
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Nederland Margaret Iorio, one of Nederland’s long-time resident old-timers, died last week due to complications from a fall. She was 91 years old. Margaret was known for her bright, cheerful smile and love for hanging out with her fellow senior citizens. Born on Dec. 14, 1917, on a farm outside of Berlin, Germany, Margaret was the oldest of five children. She attended high school in a small nearby town, until Hitler and the Third Reich came into power and confiscated all the farmland in the area. The family was forced to move to Berlin where they opened a restaurant. Margaret’s parents cooked at the Inn/Tavern. She was 16 at the time and watched her country being torn apart. When the war began, the city was bombed out. Her brother was killed on the Russian Front and life was forever changed. When the war ended, the allies liberated the German people and among them was an American soldier, Vincent Iorio, who married the young German girl in 1947. The couple returned to his parent’s home in Greenwich Village. At that time, Margaret spoke little English. When Margaret’s daughter Silvia was six months old, the young family moved out on their own. Vincent was an elevator mechanic and also worked in an Italian restaurant. Margaret was a stay-at-home mother. When Silvia was four, her sister Mona was born and the family moved to Bensonhurst where they took in Margaret’s parents who had left Germany. Margaret converted from her German Lutheran religion to become a devout Catholic and the two Iorio daughters were sent to a Catholic high school for women. Margaret was active in the Rosary and the Altar Societies. When she and Vincent divorced, Margaret went to work for a photo tech processing company. In 1976, Silvia and Mona went on a vacation to Colorado and fell in love with the state. Silvia visited Nederland and went back east to pack and move into the mountains. Margaret followed her to Nederland in 1983 and bought a house on Caribou Road where she has lived ever since. Almost immediately, she became active with the Nederland Area Seniors, where she and Lydia, Rose, Marie and Stephanie became a tight group, playing cards in Central City and working on puzzles at the senior center. Margaret’s daughter Silvia, former mayor of Nederland, says, “She had a great time. Living in Nederland was probably the best time in her life. She had her senior friends and lived in her own house.” Margaret was an independent, determined woman who survived the war, leaving her homeland and made a life for herself as a single mother. Neighbor Jeanette Smith says Margaret was always pleased to have visitors and loved to chat over a senior lunch. She worked with stained glass and created yarn sculptures. Margaret is survived by her daughter Silvia Iorio of Nederland; her daughter Mona Beach of Cedaredge, CO; Her grandson Logan Heithold of Rollinsville; her granddaughter Nicle O’Brien of Dacono, CO; and great-grandaughters Clare and Katie O’Brien of Dacono. There will be no memorial services. Donations in Margaret’s name may be made to the Nederland Area Seniors. |
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 18 November 2009 ) |
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