Wilma Rose DeSantis
December 19, 1918 ~ October 19, 2004
Wilma Rose DeSantis, 85, of Weirton, died Tuesday, October 19, 2004 at the Kindred Hospital in Imperial, PA. Born December 19, 1918 in Colliers, she was the daughter of the late Angelo and Bianca Amedio Gelini. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Carl DeSantis on October 7, 1981, brothers Elmo, Floyd and Walter Gelini and sister Delia Gelini.
Wilma was a graduate of West Liberty State College. She taught in the Hancock and Brooke County school system starting her long career in the One-Room Schools. She was a member of the St. Paul Roman Catholic Church in Weirton, St. Paul Christian Mothers, Catholic Daughters of America, Three Score Seniors Club, AARP and, in her youth, was active in the Young Girls Society “YGS”. She enjoyed working as a playground supervisor and as a poll-worker at the Marland Heights School for many years. She was a good friend to all and will be missed dearly. Wilma loved baking and trying new recipes on her family and friends. She regularly defeated all who attempted to play cards with her. For the past 20 years, she and her sister, Ella, spent their winter months in Mesa, Arizona. One of her many activities she enjoyed was fashioning silver jewelry.
Wilma’s survivors include her sons Jerry DeSantis and his wife Pam of Herndon, VA and Tim DeSantis and his wife Debi of Sterling, VA; daughter Carlynn “Kay” Smith and her husband David of Middleway, WV; brother Howard Gelini; sister Ella DiBartolomeo both of Weirton and 5 grandchildren Morgan and Beth Smith, Sienna, Andrew and Allison DeSantis.
Friends will be received Friday from 2-4 and 7-9PM at the Greco-Hertnick Funeral Home, 3219 Main Street, Weirton. Funeral Liturgy with Mass will be celebrated at 10:00AM Saturday at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church. Entombment will be at St. Paul Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Hancock County Unit, P.O. Box 2166, Weirton, WV 26062.
Share tributes with her family at www.grecohertnick.com.
Funeral Home:
Greco Hertnick Funeral Home
3219 Main Street
Weirton, WV
US 26062
De Santis family, Sorry to hear of your loss. She was a great teacher. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Sincerely, Jerry Hamill
May I share a rememberance of my former fourth grade teacher, Miss Gelini. I was born and raised in Weirton and attended the elementary school on County Road and as most boys do, my attention seemed to wander to watching the flock of pigeons that were always flying about. Miss Gelini had a little pair of Dutch wooden shoes and she would throw them at those who weren’t acting the way she wanted. I can tell you first hand that you have never been brought back to reality as fast as when one of those shoes hit you in the head. She had a heck of an arm and aim. I can’t tell you how many times I have related this story and laughed again and again. Thank God for her and all the other devoted teachers in my life. My concolences to all of the family and May God hold her in the palm of His hand. Richard Cervi
May I share a rememberance of my former fourth grade teacher, Miss Gelini. I was born and raised in Weirton and attended the elementary school on County Road and as most boys do, my attention seemed to wander to watching the flock of pigeons that were always flying about. Miss Gelini had a little pair of Dutch wooden shoes and she would throw them at those who weren’t acting the way she wanted. I can tell you first hand that you have never been brought back to reality as fast as when one of those shoes hit you in the head. She had a heck of an arm and aim. I can’t tell you how many times I have related this story and laughed again and again. Thank God for her and all the other devoted teachers in my life. My concolences to all of the family and May God hold her in the palm of His hand. Richard Cervi
Dave and Carlynn, I am truly sorry for your loss. May God Bless your family and bring comfort to all. The Ayles family
With Aunt Wil gone the world has one less sweet and wonderful spirit. She made those of us that knew her happy everytime we spoke with her or saw her, she always made us feel special. She was kind, generous and loving. Wilma was also a great friend, she made you feel good about yourself. Aunt Wil treated all of her nieces and nephews like her own children, and we loved her like a friend and second mother. We will all miss her and with prayers we celebrate her terrific contributions to our life. With love, Nephew Chuck Gelini
~nonna~ my nonna was the best grandma enyone could ever have she was so nice and go lucky i love her and i miss her so badly she was my closest grandma and she would always play “cards” with me and she would watch me when i was little and we would go shopping and have alot of good times togather and i remmber one summer me n my frind jojo went up there for like a week and had a awasome time with her shes going to always be in my hart and shes going to always look down on us my dad and my uncle and my aunt all miss her very much they sufferd a huge loss prolly the bigest loss ,me n my cuzins miss her the most we all sharded great family dinners with her and she made the best pizels and biscottes no one could ever replace her she was the best person and erone prolly misses her ,out family has had a bad year there have been 2 deaths and i just piss her so much when i herd she passed it was the sadest day of my life …. i miss her so much ill always remember the good times i love u nonna ur the best grandma in the WORLD ~sienna gelini desantis~