Anna Lidia Torelli

Our beloved mother Anna Lidia Torelli entered peacefully into God’s Kingdom on August 6^th, 2023. 

Lidia was born on December 16^th, 1928 to Filippo Antonio and Assunta Pettinaro in Arielli, Italy. She immigrated to the United States along with her brother and mother after battles of World War II destroyed her hometown. Prior to leaving for the U.S.,  she met the love of her life, Antonio Torelli, who had come to Arielli  to help rebuild the town and establish public housing. She returned to Italy to marry Antonio in 1950. A  year later they came back  to the U.S. to build a family together. They settled in Detroit, Michigan where they had four children and lived until they moved to South Florida in 1968. 

Lidia’s greatest joys were her family, the Catholic church, cooking and sewing. She was an especially talented seamstress, who could create or tailor anything  brought to her.  As a young  immigrant, she learned to apply her sewing skills and became a haute couture bridal dress seamstress.  She worked at the famed Cameo Bridal Salon in Detroit, MI doing extensive and complicated embroidery and beadwork by hand on specialty dresses for the likes of Esther Williams.  Lidia was also an excellent cook especially known for her meatballs and sauce, and biscotti and pizzelles which she made  often to share with friends and neighbors. Everything she made was done with passion and love.

Lidia loved each and every member of her family and her numerous friends. She was always kindly supportive to all.  Her faith was incredibly strong and admirable. She valued the entire Catholic community.  

She is reunited now with  her parents Filippo and Assunta Pettinaro, her husband Antonio Torelli and her grandson Giancarlo Bacon. She is survived by her children Julius Torelli, Gabriella Bacon, Letizia Albamonte and John Torelli and her grandchildren James Torelli, Jessica Torelli, Daniel Torelli, Adrianna Bacon, and Maia Albamonte. She will be dearly missed.

Memorial Mass will be held, Saturday, September 16, 2023, 10:00AM, St. David Catholic Church, 3900 South University Drive, Davie, Florida 33328.

In lieu of flowers, please send any donations to St. David Catholic Church, https://www.saintdavid.org/church for Church ministry, Hope Outreach or St. Vincent DePaul Society.