Wilma Innocenzi

Wilma ”Toots” (Grape) Innocenzi, age 87, passed away on Friday, January 17, 2014, while in the loving care of her daughters and has been reunited with the love of her life, her husband, the late John J. Innocenzi. Thursday, the day of her funeral service, will be the anniversary of their wedding.

Wilma was born on June 24, 1926, in Punxsutawney, PA. She is the daughter of the late William and Effie (Engel) Grape. A true “coal miner’s daughter,” she and her mother, brother and sisters would have numerous chores to perform each day on the family farm, before and after school, while their father worked long hours in the coal mines. Often they would walk many miles each day to and from school, as this was the case for many children of that time. She graduated in 1944 from Sykesville High School and moved to Erie some years after.

She found employment with the former Erie Resistor/Erie Technological Products Company where she made many friends, but most importantly, she met her true love and soon to be husband. She and John lived for many years with the family on Wilkins Road, in Millcreek Township where all the children went to the Vernondale Schools. Wilma was very active with the school and served as President of the local PTA. She was also a long time member of St. Julia’s Church.

Her love as a wife and a mother, could never be measured as it was and always will be forever.

In addition to her parents, she was proceeded in death by her husband John; an infant daughter Diana Marie; her brother, Jack Grape; and her sisters, June Niedrick and Kathryn (Kay) Delio.

She is survived by her five children: Carl Reed; Cheryl Reed; Lydia Innocenzi and her husband Larry; John W. Innocenzi and his fiancé Brenda Strawn; all of Erie and Gail Boyer and her husband Scott, of McKean; her 6 grandchildren: Carly Reed; Michael and Rachel Innocenzi; Nicholas, Brandon and Jordan Boyer; as well as 6 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Burton Westlake Funeral Home, 3801 W. 26th Street (at Powell Ave.) on Wednesday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. A prayer service will begin at 9:15 a.m. on Thursday, January 23rd at the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at St. Julia Roman Catholic Church 3750 West Lake Road. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Blended Spirits Ranch 7401 McCray Road Fairview PA 16415.