May 6, 1926 — Dec. 15, 2014

Amalia Josephine “Lia” Derda, 88, of Niles, Michigan died at 4:50 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 15, 2014, at Buchanan Meadows Senior Living Center in Buchanan, Michigan following a brief illness.

She was born on May 6, 1926, in Treviso, Italy to Carlo and Maria (Beraldo) Massarin. She completed school in Italy, and moved from Venice to South Bend, Indiana in 1947, then settled in Niles in 1951. She was a co-owner with her husband of the L. J. Derda Cabinet Company, and later Derda, Incorporated.

Lia was a member of the Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles and volunteered at its Christian Service Organization. She was also a member of the Daughters of Isabella auxiliary for more than 50 years. She enjoyed traveling, and had visited most of Europe, the United States and Mexico. She also enjoyed gardening, but her greatest interest was her family.

Lia met Leonard Joseph Derda, a native of South Bend, in Venice, Italy in 1945 while Leonard was serving in the United States Army during World War II. After Lia came to the United States, On June 14, 1947, at Saint Stanislaus Catholic Church in South Bend, she married whom she celebrated the 45th anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on Aug. 23, 1992. She was also preceded in death by a son, Carlo J. Derda on Sept. 18, 1980; and by an infant great-grandson, Leonard Joseph Mollison on Sept. 5, 2007.

Surviving family includes her children, John (Angela) Derda and Susanna Wilson all of South Bend, Rebecca McKee and Diana (Gerald) Orosz all of Niles; grandchildren, the Rev. Fr. Christopher Derda, Amanda (Robert Mollison) McKee-Mollison, Shaun (& Traci) Derda, Anthony (Elaine) McKee, Jason (Jill) Wilson, Melissa (Jason Wetenkamp) Orosz-Wetenkamp, Vanessa (Glen) Orosz-Easterday, Nicholas (Mary) Derda, Matthew (Rachel) Lockwood, and Katrina Orosz; and great-grandchildren, Brenden, Carli, Joey, Reese, Alicia, Derek, Ashlee, Dylan, Benjamin, Daniel, Hunter, Allison, Madison, Andrew, Carlo, twins John and Joseph, Claire, and Evan.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Amalia Derda will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014 at Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles by The Rev. Fr. Christopher Derda of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Battle Creek, Michigan with The Rev. Fr. Camillo Tirabassi concelebrating, and presiding priest The Rev. Fr. Alphonse Savarimuthu, MSFS of Saint Mary Catholic Church. Committal Rites will follow at Highland Cemetery in South Bend.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Friday from 2 until 4 and 6 until 8 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Recitation of The Rosary at 7 p.m.

www.halbritterfunerals.com