Lidia Steinvoort

Our mom, Lidia, was born in Pembrokeshire, Wales in 1930 to Northern Italian immigrants,  Giuseppe and Dirce Rabaiotti. She was in Bardi, Italy -her father's hometown-throughout World War II with an aunt, cousins and two of her siblings. The family was reunited in 1946 after the war ended and together built a successful restaurant and ice cream business in Wales. She met our father, the handsome "Dutch-American," when he was in Wales on an engineering assignment for Esso.  In 1961, she left her family and the life she loved to marry our dad and begin a new life. 

Our family's life was one of adventure, love and unique experiences as we moved to nine different countries from Sweden to Greece to Libya. No matter where we were, our mom made every house a home immediately.  She was an amazing cook, a gracious lady and taught us to be kind to everyone. She volunteered her time at Oxfam while in Britain and Holy Cross Hospital and St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen in Salt Lake City.

Her happiest day was becoming a Nonna in 2002 with the birth of her first and only grandchild, Adrian. She adored him beyond measure. She was a devoted wife,  nurturing mother and overly doting grandmother. Her happiness came from loving her family, cooking delicious meals, creating an inviting home and staying in touch with her Welsh-Italian family.

She passed away suddenly and very unexpectedly early Tuesday morning, May 29, 2018.  She was preceded in death by our father in 2009, all of her siblings, Alma, Ines, Romeo and Antonio, and her beloved cousin, Luigino Pini, in Wales this past December.

Her family which includes her daughter, Carin (Tom Cloward) grandson, Adrian and daughter Sandra, together with her extended family of nieces, nephews and a cousin in Wales, Canada and France, will miss her greatly.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, June 1st at 1:00 PM at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 1375 East Spring Lane, Salt Lake City, UT, where a reception will follow.  

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen.